Wednesday

Marvin the Manic Meadow Lark






For some reason, we attract the loony Meadow Larks. The sane ones go someplace else to live. For the last few years, we had a female who nested in the rain gutter right by our front door. She wasn’t happy when people came in and out that door and her anger only increased. Each year, her protests became more aggressive until we had to use an umbrella to protect our heads as she'd dive bomb anyone who came within her reach. Bet you haven’t ever heard the words aggressive and Meadow Lark used together.
Last year, she became so belligerent, something had to be done. Either she went or we moved. I'm not ready to move, so we had to have her humanely put down. That was the end of our Meadow Lark problems—until a few weeks ago. Enter Marvin.

Birds fly into our front windows all the time, usually when the light is right, and the window looks like a mirror. Marvin, however, is a little different. He’s started trying to fly through the window, the closed window, about every half hour. Bump, bump, bump goes little Marvin's beak against the glass.
After considering several suggestions, I taped paper over the window, the consensus being that he could see himself in the reflection of the window and was protecting his territory. That didn't even slow him down. He continued to try to enter around the edges of the paper. Silly bird.
Last week, he expanded his attempts. He tries the small window he first used then moves around the corner to the picture window. He flaps along, banging his beak against the glass. 

When he gets tired, he sits in the cottonwood tree and plots. We’re going on four weeks with Marvin blasting at the window every half hour. Now that’s perseverance . . . or stupidity, I don’t know which.
At least he isn't attacking anyone yet. He seems to have his own agenda and no one or nothing is going to stop him. You've got to admire the stick-to-it-ness--or not. 
Have you ever wanted something so bad that you'll keep trying until you get it?
I'm off to the Coeur du Bois Writer's Retreat this weekend. I hope everyone had as great a time as we're going to have.



2 comments:

  1. Oh that Marvin! I bet he thinks his reflection is another bird he needs to drive off. What a silly bird. I wonder if he'd let you touch him.

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  2. I don't know. He's sure a determined bird. So funny to watch.

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