"I really like it here" said the male bird to the female.
He traces his main claw, drawing small circles in a puddle of water on the rocky part of the bay.
"It's nice, this corner of the earth. It's not too hot but the sun is strong and the air is fresh."
The female bird looks at him longingly.
"Do you come here often for vacation?" she inquires.
The male bird looks intensely into her eyes and takes a purposeful step backwards as a stone flies directly in front of his face, the exact place where he had just been standing.
"Often" says the male bird disregarding the stone's threat casually. "But I go other places as well. There is a lot to explore and many nice places to pass a summer.
Both birds hear a stone pass sailing over their heads. This one is well off it's mark, as were the majority of stones in the 10 minutes prior.
They turn their heads and regard the stone's source, a freckled eight year old kid who sits on a driftwood log. He searches at his feet and looks for more suitable stones to throw.
"And how about work?" The female bird asks intrigued. She is a hint playful but also serious. "Where do you go?"
"I usually breed amongst the chain islands in the Berring Sea" he replied. "I enjoy the remoteness, the peace after snow-melt. There, I find a certain freedom in the wind."
"The Aleutians? Me too. Do you have a preferred island?"
The male bird tilts his head to the side and thinks. There were so many islands, each one with its charms.
"I'm going to have to go with Kiska" he chooses finally.
"Oh, I'm not sure I know it."
The male bird nods knowingly. He thought as much. "It is a small island" he explains. "But not too small by Aleutian standards. Most flock to Attu, but I find Attu crowded. Kiska is what Attu was in the 70's."
The female bird is impressed. "Kiska eh? I'll have to check it out. Maybe I'll breed there in the next Northern summer. Do you have a breeding partner?"
"Not yet. Do you?"
"No" she replies and smiles.
Both birds hop closer together, each hop slow and delicate, their respective momentum driven by shiny notions seen in each others eyes. Their beaks are almost touching, the air warmer from each others breathing, when suddenly the male bird extends his wing and quickly pushes the female bird away. He does it just in time as a bullet like stone passes directly between them, the speed and force ten times greater than what they had been contending with before.
Startled, they each turn their heads and regard it's source. The boy's father now sits on the log beside him and joins him in searching for suitable throwing stones.
"Want to get out of here?" the male bird asks.
She nods and both birds take flight.
"I know a good spot over the headland. There are less people there. None of the city holiday campers like we get here."
"Why do you think the humans hate us birds so much?" the female bird asks.
"I don't know" replied the male, effortlessly floating into the sky.
They watch as both father and son stand up from their log now and hurl stones rapidly with all of their might. They grow smaller and smaller, like tiny ants, the power and trajectory of their throws pathetic and feeble.
They extend their wings and glide through the air with ease. The earth taking shape beneath them. Their paths careless, unencumbered.
"I have no idea at all. Perhaps they long to be free?" he muses.
"Have you been to the Hawaiian islands? Kauai in particular is magic this time of year..."
He traces his main claw, drawing small circles in a puddle of water on the rocky part of the bay.
"It's nice, this corner of the earth. It's not too hot but the sun is strong and the air is fresh."
The female bird looks at him longingly.
"Do you come here often for vacation?" she inquires.
The male bird looks intensely into her eyes and takes a purposeful step backwards as a stone flies directly in front of his face, the exact place where he had just been standing.
"Often" says the male bird disregarding the stone's threat casually. "But I go other places as well. There is a lot to explore and many nice places to pass a summer.
Both birds hear a stone pass sailing over their heads. This one is well off it's mark, as were the majority of stones in the 10 minutes prior.
They turn their heads and regard the stone's source, a freckled eight year old kid who sits on a driftwood log. He searches at his feet and looks for more suitable stones to throw.
"And how about work?" The female bird asks intrigued. She is a hint playful but also serious. "Where do you go?"
"I usually breed amongst the chain islands in the Berring Sea" he replied. "I enjoy the remoteness, the peace after snow-melt. There, I find a certain freedom in the wind."
"The Aleutians? Me too. Do you have a preferred island?"
The male bird tilts his head to the side and thinks. There were so many islands, each one with its charms.
"I'm going to have to go with Kiska" he chooses finally.
"Oh, I'm not sure I know it."
The male bird nods knowingly. He thought as much. "It is a small island" he explains. "But not too small by Aleutian standards. Most flock to Attu, but I find Attu crowded. Kiska is what Attu was in the 70's."
The female bird is impressed. "Kiska eh? I'll have to check it out. Maybe I'll breed there in the next Northern summer. Do you have a breeding partner?"
"Not yet. Do you?"
"No" she replies and smiles.
Both birds hop closer together, each hop slow and delicate, their respective momentum driven by shiny notions seen in each others eyes. Their beaks are almost touching, the air warmer from each others breathing, when suddenly the male bird extends his wing and quickly pushes the female bird away. He does it just in time as a bullet like stone passes directly between them, the speed and force ten times greater than what they had been contending with before.
Startled, they each turn their heads and regard it's source. The boy's father now sits on the log beside him and joins him in searching for suitable throwing stones.
"Want to get out of here?" the male bird asks.
She nods and both birds take flight.
"I know a good spot over the headland. There are less people there. None of the city holiday campers like we get here."
"Why do you think the humans hate us birds so much?" the female bird asks.
"I don't know" replied the male, effortlessly floating into the sky.
They watch as both father and son stand up from their log now and hurl stones rapidly with all of their might. They grow smaller and smaller, like tiny ants, the power and trajectory of their throws pathetic and feeble.
They extend their wings and glide through the air with ease. The earth taking shape beneath them. Their paths careless, unencumbered.
"I have no idea at all. Perhaps they long to be free?" he muses.
"Have you been to the Hawaiian islands? Kauai in particular is magic this time of year..."
