The Junco

The Junco.

From the edge of the clearing , perched on the lower branch of an evergreen cedar, Junky the Junco surveys the garden stretched out below.  He sees the gardener , preoccupied in the center of the garden with shovel and dirt.  He also notices a garden of possibilities.  ‘’That gardener isn’t going to notice me’’ thinks Junky.  And though the Junco thinks it is as silent as the stars it arrives with a loud swish of disturbed air and  finds its perch on the crossbar of a bamboo trellis.  With arrogance Junky struts his stuff.  ‘’The newcomer has arrived !’’ he boasts to himself.   Balletically poised, Junky the Junko flits his/her head and eyes around from right to left, up and down, and all around,  wary of any sudden danger,  but focused on the job at hand.   Food.  For such a lightweight aerodynamic structure a bird can intake a lot of food !  It burns a lot of energy flying here and there.   What is  it going to be ?  Worms? Insects? Seeds? Berries?    The junco eyes the  gardener who has just overturned a small section of the garden planned for winter kale.  The rich hummus is thick with worms !  And then spontaneously, in a moment of unguarded thought Junky draws attention to its self with an exalted bird song.  The gardener looks up, his/her preoccupation disturbed by the sound of a junco song.   ‘But I’m a black eyed Junco !’’ chirps Junky.   ‘’Worms are not for me.  But that Sunflower plant is the Jackpot for me! ‘’

The gardener eyes the visitor with pleasure.  ‘It pleases me that you find my garden an enticing place to visit. ‘’ And with a magnanimous gesture the gardener declares  ‘’The sunflower seeds are all yours’’