Woodpecker in Snow

Birds have always been harbingers of good things for Mom and I. When we lived in Denver there were many hard times. Looking back, I wonder how we survived the months without work, no money, no food in some cases and no safety net whatsoever. During those times, flocks of birds always seemed to come and settle in our yard for a day or two just before something good happened. Jobs would pop up out of nowhere or we would get a bit of extra cash or someone would be extra kind to us after the birds landed in our yard.

Getting older does have it's benefits but age does not come with health benefits. I have gotten a string of annoying news lately regarding my health and as a result, have been worrying about it. Nothing really serious, but enough to make me look at my mortality and how much time I actually have. It has been something to pray about. So here come our friends again to reassure us.

Several weeks ago, I heard a banging on our porch, as I went to investigate, I saw a bird fly away. Thinking it was a one time annoyance, brushed it off. A couple of weeks later, I went out on the porch again and noticed something on the ceiling and thinking it was a wasp nest or something, was going to pull it down. However, it wasn't a wasp nest, it was a woodpecker. A woodpecker seeking shelter from our winter weather. It has been there ever since. Looking it up, it appears to be a gila woodpecker, common to the Southwest US. It also looks like a Flicker or Northern Flicker, but hard to say. It's female, since there is no color around the head and neck.

I really don't mind it living there, it's a harbinger of good, so it can stay as long as it wants. Since it has been there, work has improved, I am exercising and it looks like I am going back to my beloved Japan at least one more time, for a month. We will see if this little brown bird is truly the harbinger of something special, it's special seeing her there every day.