It’s funny. I live a long way from NYC but I’m pretty sure I’d seen or read something about Flaco over the last year or so. I like when an animal becomes just another character in our world, in our neighborhood. I’ve never been an avid birder or anything like that, though my son has shown some interest; we took in a photo exhibition at our local library, held by a local birding society here in Taiwan—they had some amazing photos of the most beautiful creatures in such vivid environments! I won’t ever be an expert but I have great admiration and respect for those who are.
I got a wreath of birdseed at Christmas, thinking it would be a festive gift for birds who visit my feeders and flowers on my apartment balcony. I was disappointed when the birds ignored it, even when I broke some of the seeds off and put them with their other food.
This week—nearly two months later!—a goldfinch discovered it and has been eating it, perched on the wreath. I read that their beaks are small and good at picking out seeds from things. I’m glad that the tight bird finally found it!
How lovely that people felt moved by a little owl. He did his job didn’t he, allowing people to care about something else than their troubles for a while.
We can’t possibly understand nature even if we study it. It just reveals itself, if you are lucky.
This will sound completely nuts, but once I was hugging one of my many gum trees. Someone said that you can talk to trees so I tried to think of a question. All I could think of was “ How do you feel when birds sit on your branches, do you like it?” And straight away came this answer in my head “we are the same”
Did that mean that everything in nature belongs to itself? It was a very simple answer, I could never have made that up, so I guess, trees can talk!!!😉
I love your connection to birds. The stories you shared of helping birds prompted me to share an amazing encounter my husband and I had with a red headed woodpecker. We were driving down a remote two lane highway in rural Nebraska while on the last leg of a vacation on a very hot day in July. We topped a hill and in the center of the highway was the woodpecker who didn’t move even as we sped past within inches of it. I could see it was alive and assumed maybe it was injured so we turned around thinking maybe we could at least move it off the hot pavement and into the grass on the side of the road. My husband easily picked it up and we saw its mouth was open almost like it was panting. I retrieved a bottle of water from the vehicle and we slowly dribbled water in its mouth. Eventually we poured some in the bottle lid and let it drink until it seemed not to want anymore. My husband opened his hands and it immediately flew off into the field. It then turned and flew back toward us, flew in a circle around us twice and then flew away toward a grove of trees in the distance. It was simply amazing. We were happy we were both there to experience it because it seemed so magical. I have always been fascinated with birds and feel there is so much about them we don’t understand. Thanks for your words about Flaco as well and thanks for sharing all the bird resources. My older sister passed away in 2017. She was the Executive Director of Audubon Nebraska. She would love your bird stories. Thanks again.
Jesse, thank you for this beautiful essay. I work in Concord, and I love reading about your love for the town, and Henry. I’m enjoying your essays so much. The Merlin app gives me so much pleasure, learning the names of the birds singing in my yard! Peter Alden’s Field Guide to New England is always on my desk. 💕🐦⬛
I work at the Museum (Henry’s desk is my favorite object ). I don’t belong to the TS, but I love when the members come to town for the gathering! If you have time to pop into the museum that week, I’d love to say hello!
I'm so glad that you got to see Flaco - what a special moment! Owls are so magical! I was so sad to learn that he died. And what a special moment to rescue the starling in your chimney, and then the wee warbler, too (I think that's what it was.) I, too, love birds; they have always been a joy to watch at my feeders and to listen to their songs. I always keep a bird book and binoculars handy. My acre of the world is busy with the variety of birds; every spring is not complete until I hear the bobolink burbling in the open fields around our house. I've held many birds that have knocked into a window and stunned themselves and rescued them from our shed when they've become confused about how to get out and grieved when I've found one dead. There was one time, a red-tailed hawk attacked a young crow in our driveway. I was sitting by the window when it happened, and I ran outside yelling, "Oh no you're not, not while I'm looking!" The hawk flew away, and the young crow flew off with his mother to the pine trees, thankfully, he seemed unharmed! Meanwhile, every blue jay, crow, starling, and grackle in the neighborhood chased that hawk away! I don't want to deprive the hawk of a meal, but I couldn't let him take that young crow. I have watched that little family raise their baby, and how much fuss they made of him. He learned to be more careful. I have taken note that no birds ever poop on our vehicles, because I'm the nice lady who feeds them!
Wowww I really loved reading this. I would like to read these updates from you more regularly!! Thank you so so much for sharing. It's so wonderful how you save the young crow. :) I love that all the birds gathered together to chase the hawk away!! Bird solidarity. So great. Thank you!!
So many things to comment on here but again I will try to embrace brevity:) I am actually typing this with my bird (Rico, a maroon bellied conure) perched atop my head making sure I get to the point! I love that you got a pic of Flaco that day, I am happy that even though I didn't see him while I was there, he was above me somewhere! His story is indeed a sad one but at least he had freedom in his final year. Though that is little compensation. I too used to draw birds for a period in my life (early teens) and had a giant sketchpad of drawings. The fact that you captured the release of that little bird on video is also great to watch! I have a friend in the UK who opened an animal sanctuary of sorts and saved a young sparrow who used to come back and visit regularly after its release -primarily for food:) However, back to Flaco, there is a campaign set up to put up a statue in Central Park in his honor collecting signatures. Here is the link for everyone to sign https://www.change.org/p/erect-a-statue-in-central-park-honoring-flaco-the-escaped-eurasian-eagle-owl
You don't have to embrace brevity!! Only if/when you want to!! :)) I want to see photos of Rico!!! It must be so incredible to cohabitate with a bird friend!! I can't even imagine. And I love how you said, even though you didn't see Flaco, you were happy that he was above you somewhere. :) So beautiful and sad and sweet. I also would love to see your bird drawings!! SOO exciting about the potential Flaco statue in the park. We have to all sig the petition!! Thank you so much for sharing that. I'll send around to everyone!!! I know this is just the tip of the iceberg of what you want to share so I look forward to more!!
So beautiful, Jesse. I am always taken aback by the breadth of your knowledge and the many things you write about so beautifully. As I read, I simultaneously hear your sweet and tender voice speaking them as well. This story about Flaco, birds in general, and people as well, touched my heart. I am a believer that the simple things in life are often its greatest treasures. As we live on the marsh of the Raritan Bay, we are privileged to see a myriad of birds every day, from majestic eagles and osprey, to colorful blue herons, and breathtaking stately white egrets. We’re truly blessed to live adjacent to this majestic refuge. Thank you for once again sharing so generously.
I literally read about Flaco just last week. I was so happy to read he had acclimated well to NYC. Now I read humans untethered his cage and he is dead. Now I too am terribly sad. Thank you for your beautiful post on Flaco who did not deserve to die in this manner. I had hoped he would grow to be old. I am sorry Jesse you won't see him again. I feel sad now too. Humans...
your delightful spirit shines through every word you write Jesse... even in sadness. thank you for these poignant, yet life affirming stories... and the triumph of the little green bird visitation.
I too love birds. Imagine being able to fly! My partner and l take bird food wherever we go and feed the birds. We also put food and fresh water every day on our roof where we have fed a Crow family for over 10 years (Jays, Magpies and Squirrels also visit).
I read with great sadness about Falco, Owls are really beautiful and here in London we also lose many birds due to high buildings and how wonderful you saw him. Magical 🙏
Thank you for saving the young Starling we have people here that also come out to rescue birds in distress. They are good people.
I find seeing nature and watching birds very meditative and helps me forget the sorrows of the world. Thank you Jesse for such a lovely post 🙏
This is all so beautiful. I love how we are connected through birds from NYC to London, like they are flying in the sky to send messages between us. Thank you so much :))
Pinning this petition that Lee Penman brought to our attention. Sign on to support a statue of Flaco in Central Park! <3
https://www.change.org/p/erect-a-statue-in-central-park-honoring-flaco-the-escaped-eurasian-eagle-owl
It’s funny. I live a long way from NYC but I’m pretty sure I’d seen or read something about Flaco over the last year or so. I like when an animal becomes just another character in our world, in our neighborhood. I’ve never been an avid birder or anything like that, though my son has shown some interest; we took in a photo exhibition at our local library, held by a local birding society here in Taiwan—they had some amazing photos of the most beautiful creatures in such vivid environments! I won’t ever be an expert but I have great admiration and respect for those who are.
Beautiful piece, Jesse. Thank you!
I got a wreath of birdseed at Christmas, thinking it would be a festive gift for birds who visit my feeders and flowers on my apartment balcony. I was disappointed when the birds ignored it, even when I broke some of the seeds off and put them with their other food.
This week—nearly two months later!—a goldfinch discovered it and has been eating it, perched on the wreath. I read that their beaks are small and good at picking out seeds from things. I’m glad that the tight bird finally found it!
How lovely that people felt moved by a little owl. He did his job didn’t he, allowing people to care about something else than their troubles for a while.
We can’t possibly understand nature even if we study it. It just reveals itself, if you are lucky.
This will sound completely nuts, but once I was hugging one of my many gum trees. Someone said that you can talk to trees so I tried to think of a question. All I could think of was “ How do you feel when birds sit on your branches, do you like it?” And straight away came this answer in my head “we are the same”
Did that mean that everything in nature belongs to itself? It was a very simple answer, I could never have made that up, so I guess, trees can talk!!!😉
I love your connection to birds. The stories you shared of helping birds prompted me to share an amazing encounter my husband and I had with a red headed woodpecker. We were driving down a remote two lane highway in rural Nebraska while on the last leg of a vacation on a very hot day in July. We topped a hill and in the center of the highway was the woodpecker who didn’t move even as we sped past within inches of it. I could see it was alive and assumed maybe it was injured so we turned around thinking maybe we could at least move it off the hot pavement and into the grass on the side of the road. My husband easily picked it up and we saw its mouth was open almost like it was panting. I retrieved a bottle of water from the vehicle and we slowly dribbled water in its mouth. Eventually we poured some in the bottle lid and let it drink until it seemed not to want anymore. My husband opened his hands and it immediately flew off into the field. It then turned and flew back toward us, flew in a circle around us twice and then flew away toward a grove of trees in the distance. It was simply amazing. We were happy we were both there to experience it because it seemed so magical. I have always been fascinated with birds and feel there is so much about them we don’t understand. Thanks for your words about Flaco as well and thanks for sharing all the bird resources. My older sister passed away in 2017. She was the Executive Director of Audubon Nebraska. She would love your bird stories. Thanks again.
Educational, emotional - exceptional. Thank you Jesse.
It was do lovely to read this poignant essay and to learn so much from it.
Cedar Waxwings frolicking in the pine tree in our backyard. Undeterred by the stormy weather. https://share.icloud.com/photos/0d0J10UcBSXyM9lzl1HBrtO9g
Jesse, thank you for this beautiful essay. I work in Concord, and I love reading about your love for the town, and Henry. I’m enjoying your essays so much. The Merlin app gives me so much pleasure, learning the names of the birds singing in my yard! Peter Alden’s Field Guide to New England is always on my desk. 💕🐦⬛
Ohhh wow, I love that you are in Concord, that makes me so happy. Do you go to the TS annual gathering?? Maybe I will see you in July!!
I work at the Museum (Henry’s desk is my favorite object ). I don’t belong to the TS, but I love when the members come to town for the gathering! If you have time to pop into the museum that week, I’d love to say hello!
I'm so glad that you got to see Flaco - what a special moment! Owls are so magical! I was so sad to learn that he died. And what a special moment to rescue the starling in your chimney, and then the wee warbler, too (I think that's what it was.) I, too, love birds; they have always been a joy to watch at my feeders and to listen to their songs. I always keep a bird book and binoculars handy. My acre of the world is busy with the variety of birds; every spring is not complete until I hear the bobolink burbling in the open fields around our house. I've held many birds that have knocked into a window and stunned themselves and rescued them from our shed when they've become confused about how to get out and grieved when I've found one dead. There was one time, a red-tailed hawk attacked a young crow in our driveway. I was sitting by the window when it happened, and I ran outside yelling, "Oh no you're not, not while I'm looking!" The hawk flew away, and the young crow flew off with his mother to the pine trees, thankfully, he seemed unharmed! Meanwhile, every blue jay, crow, starling, and grackle in the neighborhood chased that hawk away! I don't want to deprive the hawk of a meal, but I couldn't let him take that young crow. I have watched that little family raise their baby, and how much fuss they made of him. He learned to be more careful. I have taken note that no birds ever poop on our vehicles, because I'm the nice lady who feeds them!
Wowww I really loved reading this. I would like to read these updates from you more regularly!! Thank you so so much for sharing. It's so wonderful how you save the young crow. :) I love that all the birds gathered together to chase the hawk away!! Bird solidarity. So great. Thank you!!
Yes, exactly: flowers for everyone :)
So many things to comment on here but again I will try to embrace brevity:) I am actually typing this with my bird (Rico, a maroon bellied conure) perched atop my head making sure I get to the point! I love that you got a pic of Flaco that day, I am happy that even though I didn't see him while I was there, he was above me somewhere! His story is indeed a sad one but at least he had freedom in his final year. Though that is little compensation. I too used to draw birds for a period in my life (early teens) and had a giant sketchpad of drawings. The fact that you captured the release of that little bird on video is also great to watch! I have a friend in the UK who opened an animal sanctuary of sorts and saved a young sparrow who used to come back and visit regularly after its release -primarily for food:) However, back to Flaco, there is a campaign set up to put up a statue in Central Park in his honor collecting signatures. Here is the link for everyone to sign https://www.change.org/p/erect-a-statue-in-central-park-honoring-flaco-the-escaped-eurasian-eagle-owl
Just signed the petition and started sharing!! Thank you!!
You don't have to embrace brevity!! Only if/when you want to!! :)) I want to see photos of Rico!!! It must be so incredible to cohabitate with a bird friend!! I can't even imagine. And I love how you said, even though you didn't see Flaco, you were happy that he was above you somewhere. :) So beautiful and sad and sweet. I also would love to see your bird drawings!! SOO exciting about the potential Flaco statue in the park. We have to all sig the petition!! Thank you so much for sharing that. I'll send around to everyone!!! I know this is just the tip of the iceberg of what you want to share so I look forward to more!!
Yes he is sitting on my head again....watching lol. Birds are actually very smart (or so he keeps telling me) I think the statue will happen for sure!
So beautiful, Jesse. I am always taken aback by the breadth of your knowledge and the many things you write about so beautifully. As I read, I simultaneously hear your sweet and tender voice speaking them as well. This story about Flaco, birds in general, and people as well, touched my heart. I am a believer that the simple things in life are often its greatest treasures. As we live on the marsh of the Raritan Bay, we are privileged to see a myriad of birds every day, from majestic eagles and osprey, to colorful blue herons, and breathtaking stately white egrets. We’re truly blessed to live adjacent to this majestic refuge. Thank you for once again sharing so generously.
Wowww this is so beautiful and exciting to imagine. Do you use the Merlin App? Do you take photos of them? What a joyful part of life. Thank you !!1
I literally read about Flaco just last week. I was so happy to read he had acclimated well to NYC. Now I read humans untethered his cage and he is dead. Now I too am terribly sad. Thank you for your beautiful post on Flaco who did not deserve to die in this manner. I had hoped he would grow to be old. I am sorry Jesse you won't see him again. I feel sad now too. Humans...
Sending so many hugs. We have to do better and better and better,,,,
Yes..yes..yes🙏🏻😔💗
🫂
your delightful spirit shines through every word you write Jesse... even in sadness. thank you for these poignant, yet life affirming stories... and the triumph of the little green bird visitation.
I too love birds. Imagine being able to fly! My partner and l take bird food wherever we go and feed the birds. We also put food and fresh water every day on our roof where we have fed a Crow family for over 10 years (Jays, Magpies and Squirrels also visit).
I read with great sadness about Falco, Owls are really beautiful and here in London we also lose many birds due to high buildings and how wonderful you saw him. Magical 🙏
Thank you for saving the young Starling we have people here that also come out to rescue birds in distress. They are good people.
I find seeing nature and watching birds very meditative and helps me forget the sorrows of the world. Thank you Jesse for such a lovely post 🙏
This is all so beautiful. I love how we are connected through birds from NYC to London, like they are flying in the sky to send messages between us. Thank you so much :))