Uncanny | Shannon Eberhard

I was reading on the couch in the living room when I noticed a repetitive rapping sound coming from the sunroom where the birds were playing. At first I ignored it, but after awhile it started to annoy me, so I got up to behold probably the strangest thing I’ve seen a bird do. Louie (my sisters love bird) was straddled, and rocking back and forth on one of his perches by pushing and pulling with his spare foot on a parallel perch. His head was arched back and he was emitting strange squeaking noises. First thing through my head was "What the @*#% !" But then it was "Louie is humping that perch!"

I know it is common for small dogs to exhibit such behavior, but birds? I was dumbfounded! Birds are usually used by us as metaphors for things that are elegant clean and beautiful. Their images are used on the crests for kings, in patterns of fine silk you know what I mean. But Louie, after watching his display, would better belong in the painting "Dogs Playing Poker" than on a royal crest!

It really is funny that the image of Louie humping disturbed me so much, I guess it was just because it was so unexpected. It shattered a few of my stereotypes about birds anyway. Which is fine because they are after all wild things and very social animals who very much like us, must experience a little sexual frustration once and awhile.