Have You Seen My Bird?

When I looked into the back yard this morning, I found the baby Scrub Jay sitting quietly on an agave leaf. Mama Scrub Jay came to feed it, with some hard-boiled egg yolk I provided.

Nevertheless, when the entire family of Scrub Jays - three additional birds - came to pay a visit, they alighted just outside the yard's back gate. They enticed the baby to scramble over to the gate, duck through the chain link fence, and leave the yard. I could see from the way the bird stumbled that, indeed, it seemed to be injured.

A Scrub Jay family member looks for grubs in the driveway adjacent to the alley.

To me, the driveway looks like an unpromising place to dine, but Scrub Jays really seem to like it fine there.

I'd better go out into the alley and check on the baby bird. Even though the alley is generally pretty quiet, there is a black-and-white cat out there sometimes.


What's going on? There is a parade in the alley! The alley is full of people!

The folks at the California DMV are celebrating something called CPD Spirit Day, which apparently features a parade, one of the highlights of which is touring the scenic wonders of my back alley!

Have you seen my bird?

Hello? Have you seen my bird?

The CPD folks are friendly and happy, but no, they have not seen my bird.

Have you seen my bird? Are you pointing over there?

Ah, there you are, under the baby oak!

This is not a safe place, but it probably hurts like heck to walk.

I will likely have to effect a rescue this afternoon....

Stay here!