PHIL

My life has been go, go, go lately but something interesting happened this weekend that made me shift my plans and drive two hours last night...all for a little blackbird my kids name Phil.

Friday a blackbird swooped into our lives, literally.  My kids were playing outside and their screams alerted me to this bird that would not leave them alone.  It flew around them for hours, diving and perching on their basketball hoop and our porch.  By the next day, we weren't afraid of the bird because we realized he was friendly.  By Sunday, he welcomed us that morning when we left the house to get a Sunday paper and coffee.  Monday morning, he was perched on my head when the school bus picked up my son.

Between perching on my own kids heads, shoulders, and arms - as well as the neighborhood kids - he was becoming quite the personable feathered friend. 

Phil perched on my shoulder

I worried though - he was TOO friendly.  One kid was throwing rocks at him, another threatened to "kill the bird" and the soccer players in the field across the street were constantly being "attacked" by our friendly little bird.  He wasn't aggressive, but people aren't used to having a wild animal so comfortable around humans.  Plus, we live in the NE and it will snow in a few months so I worried about him in the colder weather.

Long story short, I drove 2 hours round-trip to a Wildlife Rescue Center last night.  They suspected he imprinted on a human and therefore thought he was human rather than a bird.  I was told too that he was young, born this year.  They will try to rehabilitate him and release him back to the wild, or else use him for educational purposes.   He will not be harmed - it was a humane rescue center that was concerned in giving him a safe living environment.

Phil came into our lives and left a big impression on us.  He was a great little bird and I'm looking forward to getting updates on him.

Elena