A surprise was waiting for me outside as I walked up the sidewalk to the house.
There in the fallen leaves, fluttering and tipping awkwardly sideways, was a bird. Graceful long lines, slender brown form--unable to right itself, unable to fly. Knocked off her feet by something she didn't see--perhaps another window strike.
I'd never seen her before, and it startled me to have had two such close encounters with such special birds in this short time. Two weeks ago, the Wood Thrush, considered of high conservation concern because of forest fragmentation, and now a juvenile Black-billed Cuckoo, a high-priority species for conservation in the Midwest. Unusual birds to see, for me at least, and leaving me almost speechless to hold each in my hand.
Such a privilege to offer them safety--just for as long as they needed to catch their breath.
Who knows how long it may be before I see them again.
for discussion identifying this bird.