Birds of a Feather

A redbird guards his territory at the Veterans Memorial at Shallowford Square.

Looking Everywhere

Clouds were moving in, and I was getting a little desperate to capture at least one good photo. I’d already been to several locations around Lewisville and had taken a few half-hearted shots, but I knew that none of them was particularly outstanding. The overcast light simply left most subject matter looking bland.

Even the beautiful trees in Shallowford Square that were in full bloom looked dull. Still, I walked around the Square, scanning the area for photo possibilities — and I felt my anxiety rising with nearly every step I took.

Creatures of Habit

As I approached the Veterans Memorial, I spotted a redbird sitting on the POW-MIA monument. When he saw me, he immediately flitted to one of the nearby oak trees. I didn’t think any more about him, and continued surveying the area, looking and hoping for something that could become an interesting photograph.

Moments later, the redbird flew back to the monument. All the while, he was twerping the cardinal’s melody. Then he flew to a tree that was only a few feet away. I thought, “I wonder if he’ll fly back to the monument.” Sure enough, he did.

I began to think that perhaps this little redbird was going to provide the shots I needed for the day. So I sat down on the ground, about 20 feet from the monument, focused my long lens on the top of the monument, and waited.

What transpired for the next 30 minutes or so became a drama of two curious creatures watching each other! To read more of this tale (and to see a few more photos), please continue to the NEXT SECTION!

Who’s Watching Whom?

I was beginning to see a predictable pattern. One moment, the redbird was sitting on the top, usually back right-hand corner, of the POW-MIA monument — looking at me looking at him! Then, as if to intentionally disrupt my photographic mission, he’d either fly directly to a nearby tree, or he’d jump to the ground behind the monument and then fly off to a tree.

A curious redbird sits on the Veterans Memorial at Shallowford Square.

Sometimes my feathered friend flew directly back to the top of the monument — same corner — and other times, he flew behind the monument, at its base. I’d hear him chirping, and then he’d jump to the top of the monument — same corner. He’d look at me, and then jump back to the ground behind the monument. Then he’d jump back to the top of the monument. He performed that back-and-forth routine time after time.

At some point, it occurred to me that this little fellow was as curious about me as I was intent on capturing his every minor movement. Maybe I was the first photographer he’d ever encountered. He was certainly the first redbird I’ve photographed.

The Tale End

All I know is that no other bird has ever paid so much attention to me as my red-feathered friend! On a day when I was questioning my ability to come up with a good photo, spotting him was the best thing that happened to me.

Maybe he even went home that day and told the tale of the peculiarly predictable human who caught his eye!

The last shot of the intriguing redbird at the Veterans Memorial at Shallowford Square.