BRAZIL BUZZ: The early bird gets the worm

BRAZIL BUZZ: The early bird gets the worm

We saw a huge flock of robins stop by for a brief visit. One bluebird perch on the utility shed for a few moments last week. It must have been too cool for the lot of the early- birds, all took wing to a better place.

I supposed the construction workers at the school ridded the pigeons from the premises during the summer of last year. One pair remained lofting atop the building. Sometime during late fall twenty-nine members of an ordinary feral flock moved in on the pair welcome or not.

They are still here, leaving each morning and returning to the large lamps over the tennis courts around our dinner- time.

The flock fly several times, showing a variety of plumage patterns within in our scope as viewed from the patio windows before they tire , land and settle down to roost near the exhaust of the heat unit, in the eaves of the building.

Now you might wonder why I would be so interested in bird watching and especially pigeons.

During my childhood my father raised many breeds, pigeons members of the rock dove family.

Many of the adult birds and squabs were housed in various places on the homestead. The loft over his summer kitchen housed his homers and ordinary others, as well.

Nesting and resting between the rafters and multiplying in numbers, sure did call for extra chores for the loft manager and his work crew, we kids. Loft duty still permeates my nostrils when I think about it.

Pretending to be undertakers, to the dearly feathered and fuzzy deceased lives on in my store and reminders, remnants of those events may linger in my lungs.

During that time we were not aware of health risks associated with the birds in our flocks and others. We just handled the tasks at hand without complaints.

The simple pleasures of our young lives out weighed the rough spots that we all endured as a family.

Dad cut a small opening toward the front of the pigeon loft so we could watch the homing pigeons from the back porch stoop, sometimes in the morning and when the sun begin to set. Our world was small and never dull. I was so proud to be his kid and share with him time and interests, including bird watching.

Now in the winter of life, my world is small and never dull. Those pigeons remind me of where I have been and the nest I once knew and flew without notice and eloped. I smile.

They also remind me of the same day I left the nest and gained the rock beside me and thank God for the many blessings I have known even when the feathers fly! Full speed ahead!

I can be reached by phone at 317 - 286-7352 or drop me a line to 649 South Grant Street, Brownsburg, IN., 46112.