Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The Story of The Dive-Bombing Brewer's Blackbirds

If anyone will appreciate this story, it's my mom—or for that matter—anyone who is a runner. Doesn't it seem like we always have the craziest stories that happen to us when—of course—no one else is around to see it happen? I'm telling you, ask any runner. They have stories... lots and lots of stories.

This is the story of the dive-bombing Brewer's Blackbirds.

Dive-bombing Brewer's Blackbirds

Yep. You read it right. DIVE-BOMBING BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS. A.K.A. Angry Birds of Idaho. Here's how it happened. I was out for a run this morning. You know, a little 6:00 am 6-mile run to get my heart rate going and to wake me up. Not a big deal. I was running west down McMillan, a street in my hometown. About 11-minutes into my 60-minute run, I heard this crazy squawking and looked up to see a blackbird hovering over my head, and then he swooped and dive-bombed me! I thought it was a little odd at first... but then the little stinker kept coming back. He would fly, swoop, hover, dive at me, and then fly back up and perch on the power lines.

You guys—this happened for the next 40-minutes (I ran 3-miles out and 3-miles back, so for 4 of the 6-miles, this was an ongoing battle). And it gets better... the little blackbird summoned all his bird bullying buddies and at one point, I had about five... FIVE birds that were joining together and all dive-bombing me at once! They would take turns and perch-swoop-squawk-dive, perch-swoop-squawk-dive, perch-swoop-squawk-dive. And what was I supposed to do? I was 3-miles away from home... it's not like I could do anything else but run home.

At one point, I stopped running, looked into their little beady eyes while they sat up on their power lines and yelled at them, "WHAT?! WHAT IS IT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Yes, I yelled at the birds. And they did nothing. They just sat on their power lines and chirped down at me, acting all innocent and like I was the crazy running lady who was yelling at them (which, had I been observing this, I would have thought the same thing). But then—as soon as I turned back around and began running—they started dive-bombing again! Finally... finally as I came within a mile of my house, they stopped following me. I kid you not, it was funny. Actually funny.

The best part about this story is that McMillan is a little 2-lane road that runs through Meridian, and there are quite a few people who take it to travel to work... so as this was all happening and I was running along the shoulder of the road (there are no sidewalks), cars were driving by! I can't even imagine how funny it must have looked to see this girl running and being dive-bombed by these little black birds. Just priceless.

When I got home, I didn't know what kind of birds they were (just small black ones), so I googled it and found that they are Brewer's Blackbirds... and here's the thing, apparently this isn't out of the ordinary for them to terrorize people like this! And it's not like I was wearing something crazy... I had on a lime green top and a white hat... nothing that would attract any unnecessary or warranted attention from birds. Anyway... that was my story for today. I have a lot of stories about running... but this one takes the cake.

44 comments:

elisa lindstrom said...

That totally happened to me too! I was running on Northwestern University's campus and was dive bombed by a black bird a few times. I didn't understand why it was me since there were a lot of people out (running, walking, etc) but that bird did not want me there. It's so crazy. I can't imagine what it was like to have FIVE of them going after you. Poor thing! Total craziness.

Amanda English said...

Seriously I lol'd. I bet that was a sight to see you yelling at the birds. I would have been swinging with punches! haha. This past weekend I was on our wooded running trail (20+ miles long) and was running a nice little 4 miler and came across a beautiful owl. He kept swooping next to me and followed me on the side of the path for a bit. Then about 1/4 mile later I saw a 4ft long black snake slithering on 'over' the path. I just ran around it, but I seriously hope that owl got him. (:


Great story though! Still chuckling as I type. ha


www.eloquentenglish.me

Kateri Von Steal said...

Creepy and Funny!



Klay mimicked a crow once.... and he was hiking... the next clearing he got to, there was a tree FULL OF CROWS... almost to say "Yes sir, you called?"


Freakiest Thing EVER!

Kelsey Wilburn said...

they're so crazy territorial! worst

kw ladies in navy

Hannah Scott said...

Oh that is classic! Maybe they thought you could use a little motivation to keep going. Makes me think of the Pixar short "For the Birds"... They know exactly what they're doing!!! Here's a link, if you want to laugh. I crack up every time!

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=3dq2dJcZBJA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D3dq2dJcZBJA

MacKensie said...

hahaha that's terrifying. I would've freaked out.

Kelly Ann said...

That is crazy, AHHHH!

xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes

Lindsey said...

Haha, I laughed out loud at this! It must have been funny to people watching! Glad they didn't actually attack :)

Anna Sinclair said...

Ack! I would be a little freaked!

Becca Moss said...

Oh goodness, you handled it better than I would have. I'm a tad-bit super freaked out about birds.

Brittaniens said...

This is too funny, but also horrible because I've experienced them dive-bombing me while running in Idaho. Went for a run along the river and as soon as I left my house this bird hoovered and attacked! Along with your story, it happened the entire 4-mile run!!!

There must be something better for them to attack!

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

You should bring a squirt gun with you next time ;-)

Laura at Howdy Girl said...

She should! A squirt gun would be too much fun!

Lindsay said...

That is straight out of The Birds (but funny, not scary)!

patty said...

This story was crazy funny (in a crazy scary) kind of way! Definitely has hitchcock written all over it!

Tracey Stone said...

Ha! I thought that they dive bombed because they had a nest nearby.....didn't realize that they were just being nasty! I got dive bombed last week. And yes, Mom does think this is funny....love Mom:)

Lauren Bryant said...

talk about angry birds! next time bring a taser or some mace to fight back at those terrorist birds :)

Annelise Rowe said...

I laughed and laughed about it all day. I want to run that same route again and see if they're always that crazy! Poor you, though... singled out among the crowd! I giggled... :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Oh man! An owl! Now THAT would be a cool running companion. And yeah, I hope he got that snake... what a yummy treat!

Annelise Rowe said...

Oh I'm so glad! I just had to throw my tube away and I'm using a Lancome one... and it's just not as good! Yay for covergirl!

Annelise Rowe said...

That's what I felt like! I kept thinking that if that happened to someone who had a fear of birds that it would be just awful!!

Annelise Rowe said...

EEK! And crows, too. The worst!

Annelise Rowe said...

I guess so! I read up on it after reading your comment. Weirdo birds!

Annelise Rowe said...

I bet you have a bunch of runner's stories!! You're the pro!

Annelise Rowe said...

No kidding! I was waiting for one to perch on my hat. Now THAT would have been a sight!

Sara Wiles said...

We have white tailed birds in Atlanta that do the same thing, but only when I'm running or walking with the dog and ONLY in the spring (I think it's when they are mating). My dog is fearful of being outside for MONTHS.


So crazy these birds exist where you are. Be safe. Maybe wear a hat with a picture of a bear on it to scare them off next time. Yikes!

Annelise Rowe said...

HA!!! THAT VIDEO! Oh my gosh. Those pixar guys... genius. I feel like the part where they're all squawking and making fun of the big one... that was them doing that to me! :)

Annelise Rowe said...

I'm so glad you weren't there! These things were tiny and terrifying! :)

Annelise Rowe said...

You would think so! It's not like they can eat us or anything! :)

Annelise Rowe said...

BEST IDEA EVERRRR!

Annelise Rowe said...

Yes I should! A pocket squirt gun... perfect!

Annelise Rowe said...

It totally is! I'm a Hitchcock fan and it made me smile!

Annelise Rowe said...

Thank goodness I didn't lose an eyeball :) ha!

Annelise Rowe said...

Let's hope we don't get any lingering birds this weekend! Our runs always have the funniest stories. Love you, Mom!

Annelise Rowe said...

Someone suggested a squirt gun! Ha! Can you imagine?

Annelise Rowe said...

Or attach some spikes to the top of it! Ha!

Cody said...

WOW! That must suck. But then again, I got attacked by a whippoorwill, TWICE! Oh it sucked.

By the way: how are you? I have been crazy busy and haven't been able to stop by and comment as much.

Kelly NH said...

LOL. We have quite a few crazy hell-bent birds in Australia. Magpies, Miners, I cant remember the name of one that has talon things on its wings that lays its eggs in open fields (like public ovals, where people go jogging - then it attacks them in all its fury!!) I get attacked regularly in spring by Magpies who are guarding their nests. The worst time was one that kept hitting the top of my bike helmet, when I turned around to see where it was and seen it coming for my face I got the wobbles and fell off. It was a slow limping walk to work with a horrible magpie swooping me all the way.....

Cody said...

Yeah, birds don't like me.

I see you have been posting alot about running. That's good though. Something I need to get into. I have been crazy busy too. Oh well.

Annelise Rowe said...

I don't go for too long, except for on the weekends! I was running a LOT between '09-'11, but then stopped for a while because life got in the way. I've always been a runner, so getting back into it feels so good! And... if not... walking is good too!

Katie said...

Haha oh gosh this is hilarious. Like something out of The Birds! That definitely would have been a sight to see.

Cynthia Meyers said...

Oh goodness. Birds scare the crap out of me and this is like my worst nightmare, haha! Also, I wanted to say thanks for the mascara recommendation, I am in love!!

Annelise Rowe said...

Now THAT is the worst story! I can't believe it actually attacked your helmet! What a crazy bird!!

Annelise Rowe said...

Twice? Poor girl! That's just crazy!

Cody, I've been GREAT! Don't you worry if you can't stop by every day. I love hearing from you whenever I get the chance! I am so good... just resting and running and resting and running! So much going on, it seems, but it's all good!

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