My bird story - and part of someone else's

I don't get on with birds. This started when I was in high school. My walk home took me near a very territorial bird's nest. My first warning was when I felt a THUMP on top of my head. The winged rat had strafed my head! This continued for an entire year. I told friends and family, none of which believed me, until I demonstrated. I never learned whether the bird moved to a different area the following year, because I changed my route home.

The funny thing is that I don't really dislike birds. I have cared for a few, but never long-term. Parrots make me nervous, mostly because I know how strong those hooked beaks are.

Once while on the way home from work I found an owl in the snow. I took it home and once it warmed up it seemed fine. The only thing I could get it to eat was a mouse that had been killed in a trap. Eventually I just let it go, and it flew swiftly & silently across the street, where it remained as long as we lived in that house. We know this because prior to that day, we never heard owl hoots, but after it was nightly.

And of course I chose my name from a raptor.