WAITING FOR LOW TIDE

WAITING FOR LOW TIDE

Birds of a Feather

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And so, they sit and patiently wait. At least, most do. Some will fly off looking for a place where the water is a bit lower. Somewhere where the oysters are ripe for their picking.

It was a beautifully warm, spring morning and the tide was close to changing. Just an hour ago, that sand bar had been submerged completely. As the water level began to wane, the birds began flocking to find their spot.

We saw terns, wrens, gulls, and sandpipers – all hungry, all waiting.

The pelicans haven’t been around so much anymore. Not since hurricane Charley devastated the area back in 2004. They are beginning to trickle in but very slowly. They also won’t land on such a small strip of sandbar. If they can’t find a large enough tree to hold them, they’ll glide down into the water. Unless of course, they see their prey. When they do, they’ll make a dive-bomb, beak first into the harbor and grab their lunch before it swims away. But the pelicans prefer fresh fish opposed to the smaller crustations.

“So, what do you think, George? Should we fly around some and see what’s out there?”

The tern looked at his brother with surprise and then, impatience. “Harry, if I told ya once, I told ya a thousand times, we’re stayin’ here. Don’t wanna lost our spot!”

George was only a few minutes older than Harry, cracking his shell and poking his head out first. “Harry, ever since the snowbirds came back to Florida, you’re sounding more and more like them.”

“Aw come on, George, so what? Everybody’s gotta sound like something and besides, humans can’t understand us. So, what’s the difference how we sound?”

“Harry, you sound ridiculous! Maybe the humans can’t understand you, but we all can. Cut it out, will you?”

“Aw, nuts! I was just having some fun.”

“Hey, guys,” Izzy shouted. “Look, the water’s starting to go down a bit more.”

“Won’t be long, now”, said Henry.

Sally battered her eyes. “Did anyone see where Mike flew off to?”

“You mean you weren’t watching him?” Sharon asked.

“Sharon, you know I don’t watch him every second!” Sally replied.

The boys laughed. “You sure could have fooled us,” George answered.

Just then, Mike landed on the tiny sandbar.

“Hey guys, I flew around a bit. The water is definitely going down. Slowly but surely! Tide change is here! At last! From what I’ve seen, we should all have a magnificent feast in about ten minutes.”

He waddled closer to Sally. “Hey, Girl. How about if you and me find our own little corner of this sandbar so we won’t be disturbed while we’re eating?”

“Oh, Mike, you say the most romantic things. You lead, I’ll follow.”

And off they went to find their own little piece of sand.

“And there they go!” Harry noticed. Harry noticed everything.

“Aw, come on, Harry. Don’t pick. They’re in love. I wouldn’t be surprised if, after they eat, they fly around looking for tree to build a nest.” Sharon was always the romantic optimist.

“Who are talking about?” Millie landed near Sharon.

Sharon replied, “Sally and Mike. They wandered off to find a corner of their own.”

“Oh, I wish I could find a love like that.” Sharon sighed.

“Well, Sharon, I did see many wrens watching you as you landed.” Harry noticed. Harry notices everything.

“But, Harry, they’re WRENS! I’m a TERN!. How would our chicks look? A stripe across only one eye? Everyone would laugh.”

“Well, maybe the saying is true then” George commented.

Sharon stuck her head in the air and sarcastically asked, “And just what might that ‘saying’ be?”

George looked at the other birds and snickered as he said, “Birds of a feather …, my dear, birds of a feather.”