For the last several years whenever I go up or down the stairs in our backyard, a bird flies out of the bushes growing in front of the lattice under the deck. She looks like a Brown Towhee. I figured she was nesting back in there and even staying safe in the winter for protection.
The last time I saw her was in mid-October when I was reading out by the pool. She was busy flying in and out of the bushes but then she landed near me.
She came quite close to check me out. Unfortunately I didn't have my good camera only my phone but I snapped away.
She only had one foot and seemed quite adaptable at taking care of herself and perhaps a nest of eggs. Prior to this I had only seen her flying so I had no idea she was missing a foot. What I found most admirable was that she didn't feel one bit sorry for herself. She just got up every morning and went about her day.
I began to refer to her as Hoppy and Mr. B saw her a few times as well but then she disappeared. I was worried a cat or hawk may have gotten her. But this morning I spotted her outside of my bedroom door. I was delighted to see she was safe and sound. I said "Hello Hoppy and welcome back!". She looked at me for a second and then hopped away taking care of her day.
Don't you just love happy endings?
