The Fledgling

Something really remarkable happened to me today. I was sitting at my desk when I thought I saw something flutter by in the hallway past my office door. I thought I was imagining things. Then about 5 minutes later, I saw something flutter past my door in the opposite direction. I got up and walked to the doorway and saw a Mockingbird fledgling standing in the hall. When I asked him what he was doing there, he just cocked his head and looked at me. I tried to pick him up, but he halfheartedly flew down the hall and landed. I approached him quietly and he just stood there watching me as I stooped over and put my right hand around his little body. I expected to get pecked, but the little guy was amazingly calm. I could hardly believe that he let me hold him without struggling. He just continued to look at me as I walked to the door and placed him on a bush outside. The guys I work with were as amazed as I was that he allowed me to get close enough to even attempt to hold him. I wish I'd had a camera. But to top things off, I saw a Great Blue Heron flying over a creek on my way home. What a great day!