Just a short story, thanks.

I got in my hot tub this morning as I always do, and I was marveling
about how fun it is to sit in a hot tub while it snows. It's a
contradiction of conditions that has always made me smile.


After a few minutes I heard and then saw a male Anna's off to my right
and noticed he was setting down in a bush I have seen them use quite a
bit. Above and behind my hot tub is a feeder that hangs outside my
bedroom window, and they often will land on the bush before moving over
to the feeder.


To my surprise, this guy flew over and landed right above my hot tub.
There is a telephone wire that runs about 5 feet over the tub as it
stretches from the utility pole to the house. He was quite vocal at
first and I assumed he was fussing at me for the condition of my feeder.
To be honest I hadn't properly cleaned it the last time I refilled it
and I had noticed that lack of attention it was getting from the hummers.


But then it occurred to me that this gent was sitting right where the
steam of my hot tub was rising. He was warming himself! He stopped
fussing and settled in, though being vigilant as they always are. I
could see his body pulse with his heart beat as he looked side to side,
and I wondered where he had gained the experience to know steam was a
good way to get warm on a snowy, winter morning. He got quite
comfortable. He voided his bowels twice while there and not even the
energy of my four month old puppy seemed to disturb him.


That is what I would call "urban wildlife"


He sat there long enough that I drank all of my coffee and began to
check my hands to see how prune-like they were. I really didn't want to
get out and disturb the gent, but the condition of my hands caused me
mild concern.


Eventually he did fly up to the feeder, just to check it out. I believe
it might be frozen. So I 'd better get up there and make the proper repairs.


A great way to start the day! I'm off to clean his feeder. Cheers!


--
Jack Nolan
16216 6th Ave NE
Shoreline, Wa. 98155
206-940-2225 (cell)
jack1 at drizzle.com