A Bird's Eye View

It was a very unusual sight to see a single duck flying around the US Botanical Garden, but even stranger when he landed on the top of the building. Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to snap his photo looking almost lost on the ledge of the building. Walking along the mall the other day there seemed to be a lot of chirping and commotion going on. The birds are busy this time of year. I particularly like the fluffed up male pigeons running after what appears to be very disinterested partners. But the chattering seems to be the loudest whenever there is a single bird sitting on the highest branch or point on a building - looking down and mocking the passers by. This was the case by the House Office Buildings and near the Capitol. We used to have parakeets when we were young and I like most feathered friends. I even trained one of our parakeets to talk, fly to me on command, and ride on the steering wheel of a Barbie doll car. At eye level, they timidly approach the fountain on our little patio for a sip of water or to take a quick bath, nervously looking around every second. But the birds overhead take command and seem almost threatening. I read somewhere there are more urban birds than country birds these days. They must enjoy the human world around them - and from a great vantage point.