Quick Links:
Episode Description
This episode was created and recorded by Sarah Emslie in ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 territory.
Content warning: crude language and death of a pet.
Do you say hello to the birds?
Sarah does, but they didn’t always. Keep your ears open during this short wander about housecats, city birds, and learning to open your heart.
Want the transcript, more info about what you heard, or a way to connect with other wanderers? Check out our website or connect with us on Instagram. If you have an idea, feedback, or story you’d like to share, give us a shout at wouldyouwander@gmail.com.
Edited by Sam Jeffery in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 territory.
Meet the Storyteller: Sarah Emslie (they/them & she/her)
Where did you grow up?
Right here in amiskwaciwâskahikan, in the south west!
What's your favourite plant?
HOW DARE YOU ASK ME THIS. It's like making me pick my favourite child. I love anything that makes a vine and crawls around everywhere. It makes me remember that plants are alive and really have a mind of their own.
Favourite random nature fact?
Hippos can biting force of nearly 2000 pounds. So. That's horrifying.
What's something nature has taught you that's stuck with you?
Nature teaches me every year that everything comes in cycles. Nothing lasts, and there is always the possibility for things to grow from something you thought was dead.
IG: My handle on everything is @hurricane__sarah, I really don't do anything cool on the internet.
I took this picture on like my third day of living in Toronto, and I was missing my mom SO much. I saw these flowers, and I knew how much she would love them, so I sent the picture to her. Made me feel a little better.
- Sarah
Further Reading
TRANSCRIPT - Wander 4: Hey Bird
Note: Transcripts may contain errors. If you wish to re-use all, or part of, a transcript, please contact Would You Wander for permission.
Sam: Welcome to Would You Wander, the storytelling nature podcast. Whether you're in a city, the wilds, or anywhere in between, nature is always beside you. You've come to the right place - exactly where you are. So come on - would you wander with us? This wander is by Sarah Emslie. It's called "Hey Bird". It has content warnings from the storyteller for crude language and death.
[00:00:31] Sarah: Hi, welcome to this wander. Right now, I'm going to talk a little bit about birds. Wherever you're wandering, city, town, backwoods, your backyard, your neighbour's yard, wherever, you can probably turn in a full circle and somewhere in the circle you'll see some birds. Go ahead, turn in a circle. See? You probably saw at least one. Or maybe you can just hear them. Either way, I think they're around.
[00:01:06] I used to absolutely hate birds. I thought they were annoying, messy, I envied their ability to fly, and their babies look like aliens. Have you ever been on the wrong side of an angry goose? Like a violent hissing kazoo with teeth on their tongue, and frankly it's just wrong that nature has allowed them to have that.
[00:01:26] But most of all, I hated birds because of my beloved family cat. His name was Louie and he was my best friend for 17 years. All through his life, whenever he went into my parent's backyard, a trio of magpies would surround him and absolutely hound him, squawking so loud you could hear them down the block and slowly moving in on him. Louie was a small cat and some of these birds were bigger than him. I hated it. I would always run out with a broom and chase them away. Clapping and yelling as loud as I could. Magpies were my enemy. And I swore to never like or appreciate them, or any other birds, in solidarity with my little buddy.
[00:02:04] Now, a brief word about magpies. If you're in Edmonton or indeed any city in the west of north America, you can probably find a magpie if you look for more than a minute or so. Magpies are a kind of corvid, the same gene family is crows and Ravens. Corvids are widely recognized as some of the most intelligent animals on the planet, and they use this intelligence to be absolute fuckheads. Magpies can recognize human faces, recognize themselves in a mirror, and have a particular fondness for shiny objects. There are stories of people even training magpies with food to bring them treasures, like little fucking thieves for hire. A group of magpies is literally called a mischief. I mean, sometimes they're called a parliament, but that really sounds like more of owls' thing, you know? But you see my point, they're smart, they're feisty, and most importantly they're fucking everywhere. And one of their number one urban predators is house cats. So in retrospect, it's no small wonder that the magpies were harassing Louie. They were probably just trying to keep their babies safe, and looking back, I can't blame them.
[00:03:09] But I digress. My hatred of magpies lasted for my whole childhood and into my adult years. And I was an outspoken critic of birds. You can ask people who know me. I was at one time known as someone who hated birds. Like that was an actual pillar of my personality. It's sad, I know.
[00:03:26] Then in February of 2020, Louis died. He was getting old. And the vet said the sack around his heart was starting to harden, something that happens often with older cats. I can't remember what it's called right now, but he had been in pain, I knew that much. So my mom made the hard decision to let him go.
[00:03:52] I couldn't be there to say goodbye. I was out of town and my parents didn't tell me until I got back. I had been working and they didn't want to distract me. Grief broke me open. I mourned then, and I mourn now, the death of this little animal that had been so integral to my growing up.
[00:04:13] It was unthinkable that time should pass, but it did. The pandemic came and I moved to Toronto for six months. I didn't really notice the birds there, though I'm sure they were around. I returned to Edmonton and a little bit after, I was walking to work one day in a thick fog of November induced depression, and I happened to pass a magpie, just one poking around the base of a tree, presumably looking for something to eat. This bird all at once struck me as so lonely, so tiny and fragile to live in a city that wants nothing to do with them and yet bravely there anyway, trying to survive and keep one eye on the horizon. I think we've all felt that way from time to time. So in a rush of kinship with this bird I would have once chased away, I said hello. Nothing too special. Just a little, hey bird. And after a few moments of silence, I said, have a good day.
[00:05:12] That was all. Then I continued on my way to work. I turned back to look at the bird and found it was watching me as I walked away. It's black eyes unblinking. A little spooky maybe, but it felt like the magpie had heard me. And I thought of Louie. He always listened when I talked and he too was small and brave in the face of an unforgiving city just like the bird, and me, and you. Talking to the bird made me feel like I could take the love I had for that little cat and sprinkle it around, like bird seed, maybe. Sorry, I know terrible joke, but I can lend that feeling anywhere and still have more than enough. There's room in my heart and in my city for my cat and for the magpies.
[00:06:02] When I miss Louie most, and I do often, I talk to the magpies about it, like them and I are reminiscing about our old friend together. And it makes me feel better. So now I talked to birds everywhere I go, crows, sparrows, the huge pair of ravens that live just behind the old decadence building on whyte avenue. I'm obsessed with those two living dinosaurs, both of them, and so big it almost takes your breath away. But I talk to magpies especially. If you hit the right soft pitch with them, they sometimes warble back in these beautiful marbly tones, not at all like the screeching calls we're used to associating them with. I told you they were smart.
[00:06:45] We live in a time of incredible loneliness. We all feel it. Even the birds. They just might be looking for someone to talk to, too. So give it a go. I mean, right now. Go on. No one will hear you but them. Tell the next bird you see on this wander that you hope they have a nice day. That you liked their feathers. Or maybe just a little, hey bird.
Sam: If you'd like to keep wandering, head to another episode now. If not, thanks so much for coming with us. Check out our website for transcripts, resources, and connection with fellow wanderers. Are you a storyteller yourself? I would love to hear from you. The website, email, and more are all in the episode description. We can't wait to wander with you again soon.