I witnessed something a bit profound yesterday.

While driving into downtown Calgary to pick up Mrs. That Dan Guy from work last night, I was stopped at a red light. Just on the other side of the road ahead, I noticed a magpie swoop down, and park his pinfeathers beside something lying (flat, squished, deceased) there on the street.

Magpies are part of the same family of garbage-picker birds as crows and ravens. Maybe they are even cousins of the vulture family, another noted scavenger. I think Heckle & Jeckle, the famous classic cartoon crows, are rather good examples of this type of bird…

At any rate, what struck me as strange was that this particular magpie wasn’t scavenging. He (or she) just seemed to be standing beside the clump on the road, as if on a vigil. Very odd.

When the light changed, and I proceeded, the magpie flew away, and I discovered that the road mound lying there had once been another magpie. The live bird had been standing by what might have been a little buddy, a sibling, or some other close relative. Sort-of jostled what you take for granted about those dumb, nuisance birds. I think the little feller knew darn well what he was doing…

Cue Lennon/McCartney’s “Blackbird”.

Chow for now!!

PS – Congrats, Mr. Obama! That’s going to be one special inauguration ceremony!!