Whenever I need a brief respite from my work, I get out on my fire escape for a little air: Astoria, Queens, New York City, USA air.
From my wrought iron perch, I am regularly treated to a wide range of urban bird companions. In these moments, I can’t help but imagine what it might have been like in pre-Industrial or pre-Colombian days. I’ve read tales of the sky being darkened for days by a single flock of birds.
Sounds like another planet to me — and perhaps even to the birds I see in the Astoria sky.
Common sightings include pigeons, starlings, sparrows, robins, bluejays, crows, and seagulls. Sometimes, I’ll catch a glimpse of a cardinal or a squawking flock of green parrots. On other occasions, my humble neighborhood will play host to a raven, kestrel, or red-tailed hawk.
The mourning doves may be my favorites…
Why resilient, you wonder? Well, on October 20, 2012, I walked in my door and instantly sensed that something was askew. More light than usual was streaming through my kitchen window! I rushed over to look and this is what I saw:
In a matter of seconds, I could discern the frightful situation. I grabbed my camera, tears streaming down my face, and climbed out onto my fire escape to document the slaughter.As I aimed and clicked, the hired hitman surveyed his handiwork — with phallocentric weapon properly positioned.
The men weren’t done until there was virtually nothing left.
The next day, a confused squirrel was left to wonder what had become of not just a tree but an entire ecosystem. It was a microcosmic glimpse at a relentless culture of domination.
But…
Plot twist: The image at the top of this article is not a memorial to my beloved tree. I just took that photo on May 13, 2023. Reports of its demise, my friends, were greatly exaggerated.During its last 11 trips around the sun, this magnificent tree slowly, relentlessly ascended. You might even say it was born again.
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This content originally appeared on Dissident Voice and was authored by Mickey Z..
Mickey Z. | Radio Free (2023-05-18T23:12:58+00:00) A Tree of Life — Right outside my Window. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2023/05/18/a-tree-of-life-right-outside-my-window/
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