a spot of death

I was bussing tables this morning for Mother's Day brunch at the restaurant. Something caught my eye outside and I looked out to see a little bird, upside down on the ground, wings fanned out, motionless. It was a MacGillivray's Warbler that flew straight into the window.

I picked it up and put it in a box, to give it time to shake off the shock. Sometimes they're just a little spooked. But this one took the impact too hard, I think; it died a little while later.

We had a service for it by the river; I set it in the ice cold current to be carried away.

I just saw this species for the first time 2 days ago, on the other end of the valley. They are notoriously difficult to see because they prefer to stay in the cover of brushy thickets, even when they're singing. I was so happy to see one the other day. And then I lost this one today.

I was a little sad...I know thousands of birds go this way, primarily because of our thirst for a grand bay-window view. It was a very beautiful little bird.