Fun fact, the photo above accurately depicts what a red-wing blackbird looks like just before it’s about to give you a free haircut. If you ever find yourself directly in the eye-line of a nesting blackbird, I recommend you take a picture or hop in your time machine and warn your minute-earlier self to take a different route.
Since messing with the time-space continuum isn’t an option for most of us, take the photo. That way you’ll have a visual aid when you recount your harrowing tale.
Some of you may recall a post from a while back about bird attacks. Well, after a recent series of close calls with my neighborhood blackbirds, I have a few more thoughts. After all, a bird attack, much like great art, meets you where you are at.
While I definitely still think it’s an excellent reminder that aggressive behavior towards you usually isn’t about you, I also walked away (swiftly) from this one with a few more thoughts. Sometimes simply being you is going to piss people (or birds) off. It can be easy to confuse a single bird (or person) for all birds (or people).
A one-off situation is usually just that. So, keep being you. Duck if you need to. Take a moment to chuckle at the absurdity. Rest as needed. Learn the lesson. Then keep doing your thing…unless that thing is harassing birds, then you brought this on yourself.
Be Kind. Be Brave. Stay Awkward.
Onward & Awkward 