Not based on true events

“Who’s on the way?”one may ask. “I’m on the way,” one may answer! And I am a Red-eyed Vireo in the advent of spring weather. My name Oliva, and last fall I found myself in the Guiana Highlands of South America. But now I longed to return home, to return to the North. I was infinitely wearied of dodging poisonous and inedible Monarch butterflies and ducking anacondas and flying from giant macaws. And so, without further ado , I set off on wing across river and lake, over the Andes, and  out of the tropics until I came to an immense wood. Here, I read a sign, for, pardon me, I am a reading bird, that declared the place as the Victoria , U. S. A.. The words meant nought to me, but the wildlife did, in the most unfortunate manner possible. For even before I had been there a day, a Red-shouldered Hawk swooped at me, an Eastern Grey Squirrel chattered at me and an American Alligator gave me a grin that I will  never forget. To be sure, I left that hostile country as swiftly as I could manage. And so I again found myself in the air, periodically sleeping the one side of my brain and then the other. Yes, I could sleep on wing! So much for the derogative nomenclature of  “bird brain!”  Well, anyways, as I proceeded on my way, the scenery grew more familiar and beloved all the while. Finally, I found myself bursting out of leafy trees and into spine-covered spruce and pines. To my joy, I beheld White-tailed deer raise their antlered heads in welcome of me. Here, I chatted with a chickadee, a Boreal Chickadee, who told me that further north the American Robins were already prepared to greet me. He told me, also, that he happened to be travelling that way, and inquired if he could join me. I readily agreed, and before I knew it, other vireos came to us, and created a wonderful awe-inspiring flock. What fun we had on the trip, chattering away about  our previous adventures, many of which I could not tell in ten volumes of books. Until that time, we had all much to fear, but now we had relatively little. Yes, I am afraid that a few of our flock became causalities due to outdoor cats, and Northern Shrikes, the latter which happened to be migrating the opposite way. But, all in all, there were no lizards to snap at us, no parrots to peck at us, no alligator to smile at us. No, as I made my way east from Hudson Bay and gradually north, I was confronted only by happy bats, cheery Red Foxes, jubilant Yellow Warblers, laughing Ring-billed Gulls, and so many other friendly faces. In the end, I felt accepted  and safe as I landed in the city by the Great River. There was a giant sign informing me of its name and it said : “Welcome to Prince Albert.” Ah, it was good to be home! 

Red-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus

Vireos are birds that resemble warblers but have a heftier bill. They eat insects and are therefore much affected negatively by chemicals put on laws, where insects live, and on the insects themselves. This certain vireo is a greenish hue with a white belly, a black eye-line and a grey cap, as well as a mostly obscure red-eye. Another vireo, the Warbling Vireo, is very similar but is paler with a less distinct eye-line and cap. To find the Red-eyed Vireo, look in trees and bushes beginning late in May, and listen for its robin-like “ Here I am. Where are you are?” call which is slower than a robin’s.

Eastern Grey Squirrel
Scuirus calolinensis

This 9-11inch squirrel lives in south-east Canada and southern U. S. A. It also has been introduced in Europe. Like our American Red Squirrel, it is an opportunist in diet, eating seeds and nuts and berries and fungi. The Eastern Grey Squirrel creates a drey (nest) of twigs and grass and bark.

Northern Shrike
Lanius excubitor

This shrike comes to us in winter when the Loggerhead Shrikes have left for the summer. The Northern Shrike is actually a large perching bird which eats mostly insects in the warm months, and small birds and mammals in the colder. It hangs its prey items on trees, and recent research has discovered that this is to attract mates and mark territories.