There they go.

[hannah]

It turns out that for More Joy Day, I get to share that I had a cardinal sit on my head.

The bird, not the church dignitary.

For context, I'm still volunteering at the Wild Bird Fund, but now I'm helping out with data wrangling to help with end-of-year reports. Some of the birds get released, some get adopted, some are made comfortable and given a good death, and some stay on for the rest of their lives. The cardinal's one of them. He's bonded to people and likes pecking at my jewelry. Since he was out at the same time I was helping to deal with the mallard duck intake statistics, I let him sit on my shoulder, then moved him up to my head, where he camped out in my hair for a while.

Then he pooped on me.

I figure, I was planning on taking a shower anyway.

Also, I got to gently pet a kestrel named Coral, and managed to mimic a pigeon mating call well enough to get one to call right back to me.

I'll be back in on Monday afternoons for the next few weeks until the report's done. Then something else. It's not a paying gig, but it's got animal company and a reminder I have useful skills which other people need - both of which are helpful in the ongoing job hunt.

Comments

[isabellerecs]

That all sounds super cool (except for the cardinal poop in your hair, but other than that.) Good luck with the job hunt!

[hannah]

Thank you.

[catdetective]

Some things are worth a little bird poop, I suppose. Like having birds sit on you. Also, petting a kestrel sounds GREAT!

[hannah]

She was soft! And pretty!

[thenewbuzwuzz]

Sounds excellent. :)

[hannah]

I had a good time.

[akamine_chan]

The bird, not the church dignitary.

I was so glad you clarified that, because I was worried!

You should post a picture or two of the birds you deal with.

[hannah]

Next I'm over, I'll ask their caretaker about it.

[vyctori]

I have a friend who would be wild with envy over this entire entry. Minus the poop, anyway.

Volunteering with animals is the best gig. I give a couple of afternoons a month to a local cat cafe, and it's extremely rewarding work. ♥

[hannah]

As a general trend, western society doesn't spend enough time with animals. I'm glad to have some time outside my own species.