Hekyll and Jekyll

I can’t swear to it, but the same visitors from last year have returned to our balcony. Last year we thought it was cute that the crows, who we named Hekyll and Jekyll, visited us at the beginning of the pandemic. It was nice to see something alive while we were cooped up inside. This year we find them a bit annoying since we have coco lined planters hanging from the backs of the seats. The crows are stealing bits and pieces from the liners, and are also hiding things in the baskets. They seem to show up in the late morning and then again around supper time. But I have a feeling they are hanging around in between. And they have no shame. I can’t tell you how many stare downs I have had with them. It’s almost scary how they look you right in the eye and don’t even move. My husband prefers to leave them alone, but every time they show up and I see them there I open the balcony door and ask them politely to leave. They usually do after I stop asking politely. Then, he flies to the next balcony and keeps watch from there or from the building across from ours - waiting for me to go inside and cawing so that I can hear his displeasure. We are used to seeing crows flying about and hanging in the upper branches of the trees, but seeing them face to face is a bit unnerving. Hopefully they will find other places to bother. In a way it’s nice to have the company - but there is something about crows. 

Hekyll and Jekyll

At first, we welcomed the company and it was a source of entertainment while we were confined to the house since March. The crows would land on the balcony rails and promenade. That was before we put out a couple of hanging planters. Then we discovered that some of the mulch was missing and the plants looked disturbed - only to discover that the crows were storing their stash and making a mess. When we sit outside on the balcony, you can hear them jeering at us, and flying back and forth landing very close to where we are. One day, one of the crows landed about three feet from me. It was a weird stare down. Within minutes, the other crow was sitting right next to my husband’s head. Did you ever see the movie “The Birds?” It was the oddest feeling to think the crow would attack. This week, one crow was sitting on the railing “eying” a bag that we put our cloth masks in to roast in the sunshine. If I didn’t open the door and scare him off I think he would have taken it. We are starting to call them Hekyll and Jekyll. Though I don’t know for sure, they are a consistent pair that roam the balconies of our building. You can watch them flying from one end to the other “hiding” things, then returning to eat whatever it was. As long as they keep their distance I don’t mind. But it’s getting a bit too personal. 

The Excitement of the Day - Birds!

I’m sure they are all wondering where everyone went. And since no one is sitting on their balconies, it must look like a safer place to rest. Yesterday afternoon a pair of doves came swooping down on our balcony. We live on the fourth floor and usually don’t have too many visitors. When we lived on Capitol Hill we had a tiny garden with a birdbath that attracted all sorts of feathered friends and squirrels. Being what it is these days it was welcome entertainment. I like observing wildlife of any kind anyway, so it was a treat. The pair stayed around for at least twenty minutes or more. At one point I think they were both taking a nap - one on the rail while the other one was on the floor. This morning we were again surprised by another visitor - I could see him flapping in from the corner of my eye. The lone crow sat on the rail and cawed to anyone who would listen. But no one joined him. He kept looking up and ruffling his feathers. I’m hoping we will continue to have little diversions like this. The birds must be as confused as us. They are less concerned about being afraid of human contact and we are yearning for theirs. 

Halloween Capitol Hill

We drove in to DC for a program at the Library of Congress earlier in the week. When we drive, we usually park somewhere in our old neighborhood on Capitol Hill. I worked at the Library for ten years and walked to and from that building many, many times. It was just three blocks away. For whatever reason, the parking was worse than usual - no one was moving in or out. That’s one of the reasons we moved to northern Virginia six months ago - we at least have a designated underground parking space! Anyway, we drove around and around until we decided to try near the park by Whole Foods where the freeway passes overhead. Luckily we finally found a spot. It was next to one of our usual walking paths, and on the way back to the car after the program, we took a closer look at the Halloween decorations. A lot of them looked familiar from years past. There were a lot of webs and spiders, several skeletons, a few pumpkins, and of course a pair of witches. I was also looking for some hints of fall and the mums didn’t disappoint and one of the trees in the park was glorious. The last time we were in the neighborhood things looked pretty stale. This time was so much better. And tonight, with the World Series being played just a short distance away, will make it really packed. Good luck finding any parking then!