Posted by Jeff Weber on May 02, 2003 at 14:36:51:
In Reply to: Bay-Brested Warbler at Barnes . . . Plus Mysterious Squirrel Healer posted by Jeff Weber on May 02, 2003 at 14:33:31:
: Got the Bay-Breasted Warbler at A. D. Barnes Park, reported yesterday by Michelle Davis. It's a beautiful male and well-worth going out of your way to see. Almost gave up hope on this bird (a lifer for me), as we ticked our way through eight other warbler species (including Worm-Eating, Alex), and then Mickey Wheeler and Jill Rosenfield signaled they were on the BB. It was near the path about midway between the elevated boardwalk and the small covered pavilion, actively feeding.
: Leaving the park, Miguel Padura and I came across about eight punk kids who had just beaned a squirrel with a rock. The kids took off when they saw us, and the squirrel lay immobile on the path, barely breathing. Miguel dipped some water from the fountain and dripped it on the squirrel in an attempt to revive it. It blinked a couple of times and shook its head but still lay helpless. About that time, a man we didn't know walked up and we explained about the squirrel, the kids and the rock. Without a word, he stepped up behind the squirrel and started making rhythmic hand motions above it, the shadows of his fingers barely brushing the outline of the prostrate rodent. About 30 seconds into this hand ballet, the squirrel rolled onto its belly and started breathing heavily. After another half minute, the squirrel suddenly leapt up, ran off the walk, and headed straight up a tree. I asked the man what he had done, and he said it was a form of holistic healing. Now, it's just possible this critter would have come around anyway, and Miguel certainly did it some good with the water, but it was still truly eerie the way that animal went from near-dead to hyperactive at the wave of a hand. Thank you, mysterious stranger, whoever you are.