Bye-bye, Birdie

We've had our share of impromptu visitors in the past, notably Frodo the miniature stallion and
Lucie the cow.   Today another unexpected visitor dropped in for a flying visit.

The story began Sunday when a lady we'd never met before drove up to the house to tell us she'd lost her scarlet macaw, and would we please call her if we saw it?

Today our good neighbor, friend, and lawn service provider Randy was mowing the front yard when he called to me and said, "That lady who lost her macaw?  Look, it's up there!"  Sure enough, up in the tip-top of the tallest tree at the bottom of our driveway, there was a flash of red and yellow.

I quickly called the lady and went back to keep an eye on our visitor.

Before long, the bird's owner, K., arrived with some sunflower seeds.  She was dismayed to find her bird so high up in a tree that she couldn't possibly climb.  She explained that Rose, the macaw, didn't know how to land.  She could fly up and across, but not down to a landing.

She called to Rose, and after about ten minutes, Rose launched herself into the air.

She looked like a rainbow in flight.

Looking at this photo, who could blame Rose for wanting to live free in the treetops with a mountain view like that?

Unfortunately, Rose sailed right over K's head from tree to tree, ending up in our front yard near the house.  Poor K. sank down on the ground in the shade of the tree (which was still too high to climb).  Rose peeked down at her owner and chattered to her.

Suddenly, Rose sailed down from her perch to land in K's lap.  Of all the times to pick to learn how to land, this was the one!  There were tears of joy on K's part and famished devouring of sunflower seeds on Rose's part.

Jet generously contributed his crate to make sure that Rose would make it safely home.

Tears were dried, hunger assuaged, phone numbers exchanged, and it was time to for Rose to wing her way home.

Bye-bye, birdie!  You're definitely the prettiest visitor we've ever had.