Yellow-Bellied Sap Sucker

Last week, I really enjoyed watching a yellow-bellied sap sucker pick at the bark of the yew tree outside my office window. I was reflecting on this happy observation when walking back home with Lucy after our post-lunch stroll. Lucy surprised me by planting her body at the edge of the patio. She usually only refuses to go back in the house when it is sunny and warm. This was a pretty cold, grey afternoon. I yanked on her leash to try to convince her to join me inside, but she only planted all four legs even more and lowered her head cautiously to the groundcover. Something in the way she moved made me think something was wrong. I moved closer to the edge of the patio and realized Lucy was pointing at the body of a bird. 

It was the yellow-bellied sap sucker! I was stricken with sadness. There are moments these days when I’ve had my fill of tragedy and sadness.  That day, I was at my limit. Fortunately, the bird was still moving its eye, but there was a small trickle of blood coming out of its mouth, which Lucy must have smelled. I cooed apologetically at the bird and hoped it wasn’t one of my cats that had gotten it. 

I ran inside – hoping the felines were sleeping somewhere within. Ninja was found curled in a little furry ball. Good, I thought. Prime suspect number one located, but Marbles was not to be found. In my frantic searching for murderous cats, the kids told me that they heard something hit the office window. It must have been the bird. I don’t know what prompted the bird to mistake my dirty window for open space. So, I returned to the patio’s edge to check on the bird hoping it was just stunned. It had righted itself! Meanwhile, Miss Marbles strolled into the patio. I scooped her up and pushed her inside to keep her away from the injured bird. One more visit to the patio an hour later, and I was relieved to see the bird was gone! I hoped it flew soundly away. The next day, I saw another yellow bellied sap sucker visit the yew. I’d like to think it was the same bird, and that everything was going to be okay.