Every year at
this time, when I do suspect the migrants have arrived, I go to the
window and call for Robin Hood. I did it on Sunday and had no response.
Just a few robins fleeing at the sight and sound of me. (And who would
blame them!)
Well, my confirmation
came this evening in the form of Robin Hood! Yep, he's back for Year
Three!
Here's how it
happened: I was watching the national news and getting more depressed
by the minute, so I decided to turn off the set. I sat in silence
when all of a sudden I heard a Robin outside. The sound was very close
and loud. So of course I went to the door and did my usual call for
Robin Hood, in case he might have returned. I didn't want to get my
hopes up though because the life a robin is short with so many obstacles
and if he were to show up it would be an unprecedented third year
in a row!
Well, before I
could even finish calling him, there he was--on the deck outside the
door--talking up a storm! He was probably saying "what took you
so long, I've flown all this way, I'm cold and I'm hungry!"
Now the question
I wonder is....did he seek me out--maybe he saw me through the sliding
doors (which he has done in previous years) and then called TO me
to get my attention? Or did he respond to my call and then show up?
No matter, I'm
rushing to the store to get mealies!!! He's earlier than in past years
and I wasn't prepared. Tonight he "settled" for currants,
tomorrow he'll get "tube steaks". Welcome back Robin Hood!!!
(Looking back at my records, I see he came on March 26 last year,
a week later than this year! And I first discovered him on April 9,
2001.)
When I rush into the Feed Store and hurriedly ask the owners
if they have received their shipment of mealworms yet, a smile comes
across their face as they ask: "He's back, isn't he?"
I smile and say he sure is, year 3.