ELLA: A Song Sparrow

This is the story of Ella, a Song Sparrow who became my friend for about six months last winter and spring. I believe she has been nesting in our back yard for several years.

I named her Ella, as she has the most beautiful voice. She would sit atop a tall fence and serenade us. I would answer her with a soft whistle (I don't sing), to which she then would reply.

One morning I heard a tap-tap against our bedroom window. I looked out, but didn't see anything and thought it must have been the wind. This repeated itself for several days. Finally, I looked very carefully and saw Ella sitting in a branch of a Camellia Bush, which reached the windowpane. I softly whistled back at her. We continued this little ritual for quite some time. She became bolder by the day, and even attempted to fly into the window.

Eventually she became even bolder. If I wasn't there to greet her, she moved to the front of the house, where she would perch on a hedge and peer into the living room window. She sang until I would make an appearance. When I failed to notice her, she would jump onto the outside windowsill to look inside.

We continued this little game for several months. Eventually the time came to find a mate, who actually found her. They would visit together for a little longer, until it became necessary to build a nest and start their life, and hopefully raise many young ones.

This has been one of my most endearing interactions with a wild creature.