Day 9. Making requests to animals

I love sparrows. Sparrows are amazing birds. We often take them for granted in urban areas because they are so many, and don’t think much of them. But they truly are intelligent, solidary and agile creatures.

One day, a sparrow male drew my attention in a fascinating way. From the neighbors roof, across my window, he stopped to stare at me. He could see me in the house, reading by the window and I couldn’t have missed him: he was standing right in my view field. 

 Have you ever met a sparrow staring at you immobile, for long minutes, without moving its head away a split second or a feather ? Those who observed well urban sparrow, know how movey they usually are and how rarely you meet them just standing still by themselves somewhere... These birds are very active and energetic!

This male was creepy. He was glaring at me intensely, undisruptable, timelessly.

 “Hum…. Do you want something from me buddy?! If you want food, and you understand me, show me!” ( I know, completely childish attitude on my side). But I might just play the game while we are at it...

 “I will put food out but you must come sit here at my window immediately and get it!”

Now: no bird ever comes sitting on my window edge ever! I’m not a bird feeder you see, and they hardly come standing on that tiny window edge....I never saw a bird at my window before, or if I did, it’s been too long since I last saw one. So I thought: “that would be CRAZY if I had one now, come stand here and stare at me through the window from that edge….”

Well this happened. Seconds after formulating my deal with him, it came sitting at my window…. I went look for some seeds, honoring my promise!, put them out, he flew off and came right back to eat them. In seconds, he had called all his tribe to eat at my window…. ! The place was now over-crowded…

At another time, I did another request to a bug who had landed on my couch (insects usually hear me much better than other animals). How and where from, I didn’t know. It was of medium size, crawling around to hide like crazy when spotted. I blocked its way with a book- so it stopped. Then I put a small plastic box at about 12 cm from him and told him: 

“Now please. Go in this box and stay there, I will help you get out with no harm. Will be happy after, like free and chilled and all that…” 

I waited about 7 seconds and visualized it going straight into the box on its own. After approx. 7 seconds, it moved and went straight into the box, with no direction hesitation, like it knew the way. It stopped right in it and let me close it. I put it out. 

The easiest negotiation ever.