Sad news. The cardinal had seemed to have moved on with his life, for he had vanished throughout the weekend. I kept telling myself, surely,he must require rest. Those vocal cords must require replenishment, otherwise he’d go hoarse and what was once melodic would become raspy before degrading to something more akin to static until it gradually might reach the avian-equivalent of laryngitis (which might be called “syringitis”?). Please, I pleaded to the universe, simply let him take the weekends off. Return him to the community come Monday. The hours swept by. No singing. Given his absence, I have found myself turning to a blue jay for comfort. He appeared today. Perhaps the greenspace can only support a particular level of bird pulchritude? I know not. Fortunately,he is remarkable, even if he’s not the cardinal that has surely delighted every denizen of this apartment building through last week. He’s not as loud. He’s not as talented a singer. I had hoped to photograph him to share with you, but he has refused to perch on an exposed branch, thus depriving me of a clean shot. But,again, don’t feel too saddened by his playing coy, for he has nothing on that cardinal. Nothing at all. However, !!, just now, I walked to the kitchen, passing some windows in my place, and I heard that unmistakable call. Given that it’s a little chillier today, the resplendent song did not pull me onto the balcony for long, but even a second of his talent is enough to set my a-soaring. 😀 And, don’t worry, come tomorrow I’ll move on from this bird…
