Summers are magical in Calgary, the Canadian city I have called home for the past twenty-five years. The city is transformed from the harshness of long snowy cold winters to the long awaited bright sunshine that brings an abundance of beautiful birds, butterflies and flowers. It is never without some sun even on the dullest and coldest of winter days. In addition, in the winter season, we are blessed to have the Chinooks, which are the warm winds driven down from the Rocky Mountains. It’s almost like Calgary is two cities, the winter city and then the summer city. The season of Spring that precedes the summer is also beautiful but can be cold and rainy at times. Calgary can reach high temperatures in summer, but each day the heat is accompanied by a gentle breeze. This breeze is summer’s saving grace. Whether you are sitting on the swing in the back garden or walking in Glenmore Park, the nature reserve close to our home, the breeze is a constant companion.
This past summer, something amazing happened. Two gorgeous pigeons became frequent visitors to my neighbourhood. I first spotted a pair of them on the front lawn of the house across the street. One of them was milky white, and the other white speckled with grey and black. It was the white one that first caught my attention as it stood out against the backdrop of the green grass. The pigeons were foraging for something close by the trees, beaks lowered and raised from time to time, perfectly synchronised. I watched from the office window of my home, completely transfixed by their beauty. It was such a pure sight I could not take my eyes off them. The absolute togetherness between them struck me as a deep bond of some sort. Soon, they moved, again in pairs, to the house beside the first house, and I moved to the bay window in the kitchen to watch them. I could not let them out of my sight so easily. I prayed earnestly that they would visit my front or back lawn, where I could indulge myself in their calm and stunning presence.
Eventually, both prayer and patience paid off. They had travelled to my front lawn, and I managed to take pictures of them through the office window. I wondered if they were somebody’s pet pigeons that had decided to fly away from their owners temporarily, in search of adventure and greener pastures! On another occasion, they alighted on the roof of the sunroom that faced the backyard. I happened to move to the farthest window with a cup of tea in hand, and there they were. The white one resting gracefully in a squatting position regally like a queen, while the grey and black one stood guard beside her, watchful and very protective. Both seemed to be in complete harmony with each other and their surroundings. Later, a friend arrived for a visit and I told her about the pigeons. As we peered out of the window tea mugs in hand, the pigeons were still there. They had not moved. My friend marveled at the serenity and peacefulness of the pigeons as they graced our sunroom roof like a still life painting.
The birds seemed like emissaries from heaven. When my friends saw their pictures on Facebook, their comments said they were a good omen. I wanted them to tell me what message they were bringing to me. They did not coo or make any sound, but I knew in some part of my heart that their message was one of peace and hope. The journey of the pigeons was not yet over. On yet another occasion, there was a silent flutter of wings and the pigeons had flown down into the birdbath for a drink of water. It was a heavenly sight. Every movement the pigeons made was artistic like a synchronized swim team. I seemed to be permanently stationed at the kitchen window to catch a glimpse of their next move. On a visit to my neighbor’s home, the pigeons were seen resting under the tree on her front lawn. My neighbor declared that the pigeons loved me and were my faithful followers. Again, I took that as a good sign, something auspicious that would come in the form of a blessing for me.
I recalled the dozens of pigeons that made their nests in the high rafters in my grandmother’s home in Bombay. Those were the domestic pigeons that came in colors of blue, purple and green. These two were different, a spectacular gift of Nature.
Another summer Gift from Nature
One day, my husband went out into the backyard for a breath of fresh air, a brief respite from his work at the computer. He sensed a sudden quick movement in the small garden patch beside the patio. At first he thought it was a mouse. When it moved again he noticed a tiny wild rabbit, as small as his fist. Did his mother disown him or did he simply wander away from the pack? In either case he was our baby for now, our adult children having flown the nest. We dreamed of adopting him and named him Baby Bunny, BB for short. We were thrilled when BB decided to call our patio home. The first time we saw him on the patio, he had tucked himself into an empty grocery box that was placed there for future recycling. He was pure white with pink eyes that stared at us intently, a little fear and apprehension also visible in the pinks. With time BB became bolder. On a bright summer’s day he advanced to the middle of the patio and put on a wonderful show for us by standing up on his hind legs and looking straight at us. The sound of us standing at the backdoor and watching him did not scare him away. At different times he was spotted in the backyard nibbling at the grass or by the back gate sitting quietly, in a kind of meditative pose. Each time we stepped out into the backyard, we hoped to see him and when we did, the day became brighter. As suddenly as he had come into our lives, BB seemed to have disappeared from it. We searched for him but he did not return. We were heartbroken. Yes, it is possible to be heartbroken over a baby rabbit! We speculated that he might have returned to his pack or moved on to enliven another garden with his sweet presence. What we feared most was that he had fallen prey to the coyotes that roamed the vicinity of our neighborhood. We allowed ourselves only positive thoughts as we sent out our good wishes to BB.
Making Friends with the Magpies
During the Calgary summer, the twitter of the dozens of sparrows sitting on the fence or in the lilac bushes and playing in the birdbath, the balancing acts of the squirrels fearlessly running on the electric wires, and the robins pecking by the large rhubarb plant that graces a corner of the backyard, are food for the soul. The chattering magpies add to the scene. This time again, my spouse was standing outside enjoying the balmy summer air when he noticed, what he thought was the same magpie sitting on the fence. Something told him this magpie was a female and he felt she was pregnant. He decided to give her some peanuts. He stretched out his hand and threw some on the grass. The magpie eagerly flew down from the fence and carried the peanuts away, perhaps to the large magpie nest in the tree across from our home. Soon, she became bolder and perched on the window boxes on the patio expectantly, moving her head from side to side. This time I was outside and stood by the backdoor watching her. She stood her ground, completely unafraid of us. My spouse faithfully delivered the peanuts to her. The next time we were outside, she flew onto the roof and continuously tapped her beak on the edge of the roof, as if to draw our attention to her presence. We had learned that the tapping was her signal to ask for food. Happily responding to the signal, the peanuts were promptly delivered to her.
My interest in magpies grew with the arrival of our regular visitor. I discovered by doing some research that magpies are intelligent creatures and can even mimic human speech. They are curious and never forget a human face, perhaps especially those who give them peanuts! That explains why this magpie recognized my spouse and had developed a friendship with him. From then on, each time I heard a magpie close to the backyard I would call to my spouse, “Your friend has arrived, give her some peanuts.” At first he would ask me how I knew she was my friend. After we read more about magpies, he was sure they would be friends forever!
In case you think Calgary summers are only about magpies and pigeons and rabbits, I wanted to tell you a little bit about more about summers in the city. Calgary, also known as Cowtown is home to the Calgary Stampede, the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. The event draws tourists from all over the world, giving them a chance to witness a spectacular celebration of Calgary’s western heritage. Time to don your cowboy hat, boots and bandana and join in the square dancing, flip pancakes, and other fun! The Stampede usually takes place in early July. Of course, Calgary boasts some spectacular neighbors, the stunning Rocky mountains. Banff National Park, and the beautiful glaciers of Jasper National park.
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