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elusive cuckoo revealed
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: elusive cuckoo revealed
- From: "Leah Campbell" <faeriemaiden@hotmail.com>
- Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 12:01:52 -0400
- Cc: boecam@earthlink.net, catherinec@InfoAve.Net, mymann@earthlink.net, sunnypk_82@yahoo.com, tim_w_@bellsouth.net
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
The afternoon was overcast and oppressive, like the gloomy hours before a
tropical storm. Distant thunder rolled in from several directions. I walked
to the backyard where the old rope hammock lay stretched between an oak and
a maple. I unhooked one side and began rolling up the hammock in preparation
for rain. Halfway through the process, I saw a flash of copper against the
dark background of the surrounding woods. Following the blur of wings with
my eyes, I spotted a strange-looking bird with a white breast sitting on a
fallen cedar. The large size and prostrate pose made me think, "nightjar?"
Suddenly the bird fluttered up to a nearby branch. This was no nightjar. The
pendulous tail and curved yellow bill told me in an instant -- this was my
elusive cuckoo! As if in response to my revelation, he uttered his chuckling
call. I stood agape, half-rolled hammock in hand, hardly noticing the weight
of wood and rope. I watched for several minutes as he flitted from branch to
branch, calling out and swinging his lovely tail. Suddenly he was gone,
leaving nothing but a distant chuckle. I was reminded of the Cheshire Cat
and his mysterious grin. Rain began falling and I quickly regained my
senses. Hoisting the hammock on my shoulder, I headed back for the house,
smiling like a chessy!
Leah Campbell
Blackstock, SC
leahcam@lycos.com
faeriemaiden@hotmail.com
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