City Life, Part Twelve: Bird Action

Tough Neighborhood

Earlier today, a few blocks from my home in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago, I heard a single bird whistling loudly, in long tones with occasional trills:

“Where is the girl of my dreams? Could you be the lucky one tonight?”

I stopped. Looked up. At the top of a bare tree perched a male song sparrow, bellowing his desperate plea, like a crooner at last call.

After a minute or so, I offered my critique:

“You’re a noisy one, aren’t you?”

He stopped. Suddenly. Eyeing me carefully.

Then, in nasty, deep-throated chirps, he exclaimed:

“Hey, bud, move along. You’re cuttin’ into my action!”