A Feathered Friend Wings It Through Security

I had been sitting at my airport gate, patiently waiting for my boarding time. When I first sat down, the area was virtually empty. Then, one by one, the gate began to fill up until it was completely packed.

In the row right next to me, little Johnny was wailing for his toy. Jamal was demanding his dad’s phone. A mother three rows over was visibly distressed because her baby was fussy, and an older gentleman looking out the window was grumbling because his wife was fussing over his wrinkly shirt.

The mass of people was getting to be too much. There were lots of impatient people and no one seemed happy. Seeking refuge, I grabbed my bags and moved to a deserted gate nearby. I still had plenty of time before my flight, so I pulled out my notebook to sketch out my to-do list and brainstorm a few future blog posts.

I was minding my own business when another traveler flew in and landed two chairs down, looking every bit as fed up with the terminal and the mass of people as I was. His feathers were ruffled and he looked like he had seen better days.

I mean that literally—he actually flew.

My new companion was a tiny bird, likely a small House Sparrow or a Starling, who had somehow successfully navigated his way past Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents screening passengers and checking bags. He’d probably slipped in through a loading dock or a baggage door, lured by the cool air conditioning and the promise of dropped crumbs. Now, he was perched right outside a closed Chickie’s & Pete’s restaurant clearly holding out hope for a rogue crabfry or piece of a sandwich.

I looked over at him, and he looked right back at me. We both gave a subtle shake of our heads. We were of like minds. It was pure chaos around us. We were both looking for a little peace and quiet.

He cocked his head and let out a tiny chirp of agreement, casually letting me know he was just waiting on his connection south. I raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t a bird like you just fly the whole way?”

He didn’t hesitate for a second. He chirped right back, asking why I didn’t just drive.

“Touché, my friend. Touché.”

We wished each other safe travels, and soon went our separate ways.

Your turn. Do crowded places like airports and auditoriums bother you? How do you block out the noise and chaos? And have you ever come across a bird in an unlikely place? I’m surprised to learn that wayward birds are actually a big problem for airports and warehouses.