Falling out of the nest

On Monday the week before last, I didn’t feel right when I stepped out of the car at Mercer Meadows. I felt out of whack and decided to drive home, and called in a rare sick day at work. Later that morning, I tumbled out the back door onto our patio.

This birder was grounded. I will spare you the medical details, but I made visits to two emergency rooms at hospitals, was admitted at the second, and I’m writing from a third, a rehab place where I’m undergoing physical and occupational therapy. I’m improving steadily, and the only birding i can do is by looking out the windows. While in PT yesterday, I spotted a gray catbird outside, which was reassuring.

I will undergo several more days of treatment before I can get home and back out with my binoculars and camera. I miss the birds, especially the common yellowthroat topping this post, who often sings me a morning song at the Pole Farm.