Leave Me and My Bird Bestie Alone
I was at the pool on a beach vacation, and it was very isolated. Nobody was at the pool. I noticed that a grackle flew to the pool, and I watched in awe as it dipped the chip it found to soften it up. Intelligent and beautiful creatures.
Noticing there was no one around, I went to get it some food. An older woman and her granddaughter suddenly got in at the other end of the very large, outdoor pool. Next thing, as I bend to give the bird some noms, I hear a condescending and nasty voice saying, "Oh, honey, don't feed them. They'll will attack you."
The first thing to know about me is that I'm going to feed and befriend a blackbird or corvid.
Second thing, this is their area first -- we are invaders with all the condos, pools, and hotels being built on their land.
Third thing, now I'm wondering what this lady did to incur the wrath of a blackbird? It takes a lot to make these birds hate you. The literally co-exist with us.
Her granddaughter was embarrassed by how she talked to me and apologized for her. I gave the grackle its food anyway, and it went on its way. About half an hour later, the bird came back with a pebble to wash it off in the pool and left it on the wet deck of the pool. I packed it up but I sadly lost the pebble on the way home. The memory of making a bird friend is ingrained in my soul.
