Paco and Juanita
Daniel Milnor
As the pandemic began my wife and I moved into a property ten minutes outside of town. Just far enough out to have nature lapping at the door. Outside the bedroom window two Woodhouse's scrub jays (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) decided to make a home. We named them Paco and Juanita.
The next four months were a dance of getting to know our new friends as they feverishly built their nest within inches of our open window. If I placed my yoga mat too close Juanita would land and squawk until I moved. If I made noise or opened the gate to quickly I would hear about it. Soon the babies were born and the flight training began.
One day junior, sex unknown, took a hard right and hit the front window, knocking himself/herself out and falling between several sections of plywood. I heard Juanita screaming and went to investigate. She landed at my feet and directed me to the fallen offspring. Using artificial limbs and extreme care I saved the little creature and all was well. Even now, as winter approaches, the pair return at least once a month. They sit on the adobe wall and wait for me to come to the window.
Author bio: Daniel is a photographer, Media Director and Blurb’s “Creative Evangelist.”