Taking Flight

I've been watching these birds for a while. Pigeons, I think; I'm no birder. They always hang out in the same place, right up the street and across the tracks from us. I often pass them while driving and wish I had my camera. Every photographer needs a few birds on the wire shots.

The other day, I grabbed my camera as Aidan and I left the house to walk downtown to the fabric shop (a fabric store within walking distance is a very, very good thing). I wasn't even thinking about the birds as I slung my camera over one shoulder. Then there they were and there I was, ready to aim and shoot.

The birds make the most wonderful cooing sound. I took a couple pictures and continued on my walk, then I heard a different sound. A flapping of wings, all at once, and off they went, swooping and twisting and turning. Like synchronized swimmers in the air.

The birds turned to gold, illuminated by the setting sun peeking out from under the gray, cloudy sky before disappearing behind the shadowed hills.

Then they settled back on their perch, right where they'd been all day, every day, as if they'd never left.

I know why the perched bird flies. I've been feeling the need to take off and stretch my wings, so I'm giving myself the rest of the month off from this space to enjoy my flight. Tomorrow we're going north to the coast, then shortly after that we're heading east to the mountains. I'm going to swoop and twist and turn, then I'll settle back on my perch and tell you all about it, and it will be as if I never left.