My first Spring Robin this year...and it was dead.

[Buddyblazon]

This happened a couple of weeks ago...but it just had so much symbolism that hit me as soon as I saw it. I've been thinking about posting it...however it just seemed kind of depressing. And I thought that maybe I was being morbid.

Walked out my door the other day. I look down on the steps of my apt. building. And I see my first Robin of the year. And it was lying there dead.

Since I was a kid, I've always made a big deal about seeing the first Robin of spring. To me, it was always a sign that winter was almost over.

But the first one this year...and it was lying there...feet up. As I thought about it, it just dawned on me how ironic it was. This admins. contempt for the environment. For anything living (w/o a huge pocketbook). How crappy my outlook on our future has gotten.

The one symbol for me that represented the start of rebirth...and the end of death...and it was dead.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

1. That is so sad

Very symbolic, isn't it? Probably Bush's pollution killed it.

[Buddyblazon]

2. The part that depressed me most....

that was two weeks ago. And I still haven't seen one.

Maybe they all died. Who cares. Right? Those annoying things crappin' on your car. The worlds a cleaner car place without Robins.

[SoCalDem]

3. West Nile???

:scared:

[Buddyblazon]

5. actually...I'm here in Colorado (Denver)...

and we've had a West Nile issue the last few summers.

[SoCalDem]

6. Our news programs have asked us to report any dead birds

because of all the rain we have had.. they are expecting it to be bad this year:(

[Buddyblazon]

8. Not here....

we've had very insignificant precipitation here.

...and the biggest drought in 300 years rolls on.

[GCP]

4. Maybe a cat caught it and brought it home

My cats do that, and it's really upsetting at times.

[Buddyblazon]

7. My cats are indoor cats....

Although I know Coltrane use to be a be a big bug hunter when we lived in our roach infested apt in Hollywood.

But the younger cat, Bird, he's been born and raised here...and we don't get bugs here. Although a character...he's big scaredy cat (pun intended).

And I thought about it for days. It wasn't how it died that seemed so important...it was the fact that it was dead...that was the symbolistic part. I've just been directing scenerio's in my head how it died. But in the end I keep telling myself, "What does it matter...it's dead."

[GCP]

9. I didn't mean your cats

You mentioned you live in an apartment building, so I thought maybe someone else's cat might have done it.

[Buddyblazon]

10. Yeah I realized that...

none other's in our apt building. But I've seen quite a few ferals runnings around. I just have no idea why they would just drop it there.

But then I tell my self again, "It doesn't matter, it's the fact that its dead."

oh....and the fact that I still haven't seen a live one yet this year.

[MuseRider]

11. A little help?

That is a very sad, symbolic story. It would have made me feel the same way you are feeling. I am your neighbor in Kansas and I wish to report something that might help you feel just a tiny bit better. I have a farm and one of the delights on my farm are 5 ponds. One is quite large, somewhere around 2-5 acres and that is where my house is going so I can watch the ducks and geese, something I love. I am there every day until the house is built to take care of my horses and for the last 3 or 4 years I have not seen the ducks. Maybe a mallard pair once in a while but all summer my ponds have been empty. This spring they are back. Many different kinds as they migrate and the pond is once again populated by ducks and geese. I was terribly concerned before, still am but maybe, just maybe it is the drought you are experiencing that is making it tough for your song birds. Our drought broke this year. I hope just knowing that maybe it was a fluke or drought related or West Nile :scared: makes you feel a little less discouraged although I certainly don't see a lot to be encouraged about. They are still out there, maybe just here where it is now moist.