Friday 29 April 2022

Jackdaw days

He was free to come and go, I didn't want him to feel trapped or unable to wander wherever his natural instincts took him.   So sometimes he slipped through the gate and took a walk down the path behind the cottages to who knows where, and I wondered if I'd ever see him again, but then I'd look out later and, ah - there he was.  He never went for long.

Strikingly pale eyes.  Satin blue black back, smoky grey head.  An adult jackdaw in the garden - nothing that unusual perhaps but, unfortunately, in spite of no signs of injured wings or legs, this one was unable to fly and he'd been quietly taking refuge here for two weeks.

I know I shouldn't let myself become so emotionally invested but I seem to be wired that way... worrying about cats and sparrowhawks and foxes getting to him, worrying that he'd starve, so I did my best to provide food and water and not to spook him when I was outside.  There were places for him to hide and shelter, and he seemed to be doing ok given his fundamental weakness.  He was too shy, and too fast on those two legs, to attempt catching for 'rehab' purposes - besides, I didn't want either of us to go through the trauma of trying.  So my wish was that eventually he'd find the energy to stretch those shiny wings and take off to the treetops and chimney pots, and to be as free as a.... well, of course.   Just as a jackdaw should be.  In the meantime I knew he was vulnerable and prepared myself for a less happy outcome - but at least I'd know I tried my best.

All these thoughts of jackdaws had me searching for an appropriate song...  and I was pleasantly surprised to find one.  It also happens to be from an artist who has been much lauded over at Brian's place and his name is Martin Newell.

Our lovely blogging pal Brian over in Seattle is so much more familiar with Martin Newell's output than I'll ever be, so I really recommend reading up about him and having a listen to some tracks there. But I first came across the man as the vocalist with the band Gypp, a fairly local outfit who used to play various haunts in East Anglia in around '78/'79 including the one I frequented as a young teenager.  I just have a memory of a skinny, very English and rather eccentric wild-haired guy in a hat and I think probably very little has changed in the interim and, although I don't remember much about how Gypp sounded at the time, listening to some of Martin's much later songs I can hear '60s influences, shades of Robyn Hitchcock and The Dukes Of Stratosphear.   I was also interested to read about him and his later band The Cleaners From Venus (what a name) in the wonderful and highly recommended book 'Lost In Music' by Giles Smith (it's about time I read that again I think, and if you haven't, then why not?!)  Blogger won't let me insert a youtube version of the Cleaners From Venus song I have in mind here - 'Jackdaw Days' - but I found it on the Bandcamp page so here's a link:

The Cleaners From Venus: Jackdaw Days


Sadly the jackdaw died this morning, but it was peacefully in the undergrowth, thankfully not savaged by a cat or sparrowhawk or fox.  His last two weeks in the garden were hopefully pretty chilled with food, water, shelter, lots of bird company and this peculiar woman looking out for him.   Inspecting him more closely as I went to put him in the ground today, I started to wonder if he simply died of old age.

13 comments:

  1. Blimey, C, that was quite a harrowing post. Well done to you for looking out for him in his final days.

    The Cleaners are always worth a listen, but can I also offer this one...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0pm3cMMWnk

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    1. Ah, sorry about that... it was so sad and I'm far too soft but just glad he went so peacefully. I did enjoy him being around. I hanker for one that would ride on my shoulder next time - a witchy 'familiar'! And thank you for the Al Stewart song - I like that, especially the flute and the female backing vocals, very Summery...

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  2. What a sad tale, though I can completely empathise with the urge to care and look out for the jackdaw in what proved to be it's final days. Comforting to think that not all creatures that inhabit or visit our gardens have to meet a violent end...!

    I enjoyed The Cleaners From Venus themed song, and Rol's offering by Al Stewart. Trawling through my collection of thousands of songs, I could only find one by Loop Guru, which is an oddly titled instrumental/remix, but offers a similarly soothing vibe.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2377XWZpLE

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    1. Oh it's good to know you completely empathise, Khayem. They are marvellous birds, aren't they, and I saw it as quite a privilege really to have one choose this spot as a refuge. So sad to see it die but I was kinda glad I knew what happened too and that it wasn't violent as you say!
      Thank you too for the track - yes I wonder why the jackdaw reference in the title? - agree about that similarly soothing vibe.
      Collecting songs here for a jackdaw funeral now ;-)

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  3. What a tense time for you wondering what was going to happen to him but good on you for making his last fortnight, as you say, a chilled one with food, water and kindness. A sad ending but you had definitely done your best. Led you to revisit a band and singer from your past though.

    We often have a bird's nest in the clematis going round the back window and one year a baby bird fell out but somehow scrambled to the rockery and hid in some shrubbery. We really couldn't do much to help but the mum seemed to still be feeding him. At one point he disappeared only to turn up inside a plant pot behind the wheelie bin. Soon after that he disappeared for good. I'd like to think he fledged but quite possibly his luck ran out. Will hold on to the first outcome.

    Some lovely writing from you again C.

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    1. Thanks, Alyson and yes, it was a bit tense! Funny thing is that he was particularly perky just the day before as if he was having a last hurrah. And maybe he was?!
      Ah, as for those baby birds, what a worry too. Sounds like your one's mum was doing her best though, so hopefully she ushered him to a secret place after that and he made it to flighthood. As you say, just hold onto the first outcome. I think there's more to birds (and other creatures) than we'll ever begin to know and understand

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  4. Your caring story of the jackdaw reminded of the one about friendly blackbird that you shared with us some years ago. It also reminded me of a (very close) encounter that I once had with a jackdaw myself...inside my own house! https://unthoughtofthoughsomehow.blogspot.com/2014/07/buzzin-fly.html

    As for relevant songs, all that comes to mind is the following verse from 'She Was Born to Be My Unicorn' by Tyrannosaurus Rex: '...Jackdaw winter head, cleans his chalcedony bed, a silken word of kind, was returned from Nijinsky Hind...' I've no idea what it all means, but the words flow beautifully.

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    1. Ah, yes, I had forgotten about that encounter of yours but on reading again it all came back - so glad that particular jackdaw was ok (just a shame about the pigeon/dove) - perhaps its intelligence gave it the advantage too. Still a bit scary for you, though...
      Thanks too for that verse of 'She Was Born To Be My Unicorn' - and the bizarre but aurally pleasing lyrics! There's definitely something just about the word 'jackdaw' which is very satisfying and appealing, I don't know quite why.

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  5. Had a similar situation a few years back with a pigeon, but he had a broken wing. Kept him fed and watered but a cat had him eventually.

    Am with you on the Giles Smith book.

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    1. Oh, you have my sympathy. Nature can be so harsh and while I understand and accept the normal cycle of things it's seems particularly galling when a (presumably well-fed) pet cat gets a wild bird, isn't it?
      Glad to hear you agree re. the book. Talking of books, I've just treated myself to 'Fallout' - not sure whether to start it now or wait until I'm on a forthcoming five hour train journey!

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    2. Oh, wait until you can savour it and really get stuck in... and after all, you know what they say about anticipation?

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  6. Your experience mirrors one I had this week when driving home last week from work. On a quiet wooded road I spotted a male Mallard duck waddling along the central white lines. It was walking towards a crumpled figure a little further along. The figure was a lifeless brown and speckled female that must have been hit by a vehicle.There was something about the orientation of the head and beak of the male that suggested dawning puzzlement and grief. I drove the rest of the way troubled and sadder.

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    1. Oh Ben, I very much empathise, I would certainly have felt the same way as you witnessing that. I think it can often happen with species which mate for life, they definitely have an intimate connection to each other which seems beyond just physical/evolutionary - I have no problem believing that they're capable of experiencing a range of emotions.
      And if it's even the tiniest degree of what I also felt reading about your bereaved Mallard then, well.....

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