Salt on a Bird's Tail

Salt on a Bird's Tail

“You can catch a bird by putting salt on its tail”.

I remember people saying that when I was a young child. 
The 2017 Farmers Almanac states, " One theory suggests salting a bird’s tail startles it just long enough for you to catch it before it flies away, while another school of thought believes salt contains magical properties that casts a spell over the bird. Still others think salt on the bird’s tail feathers may interfere with its ability to take flight."

Well, this child sat quiet and still under some tall bushes with a salt shaker, waitng for the birds I knew would be in the low branches. I was stealth in my actions. Would have made a Marine proud. 
Finally several birds came into the shade of the bush. I did not breathe. I sat as stone. Watching. 
Waiting for the bird or birds to seek the bread crumbs I had put in front of me.

Slow breath intake and POUNCE. I was just a shaking that salt and laughing nervously and shaking that salt. 

Do you know that those birds flew away? Yes. Away. I sat dismayed and sad that I did not catch a bird. I did not tell anyone. Some things are better left unsaid. When I was older I did admit what I had done AND that I understood the lesson in the saying. 

There are lessons from this.  I enjoyed looking at the life inside that hidden world. There was a whole other world of nature in there. Brother and the neighbor kids played right outside me and never knew where I was. (I have another story about that for a later day)

I was proud of me for my patience and plan. I tried. I had conducted a scientific experiment before I knew what a scientific experiment was.  I learned if I am close enough to salt the tail, I am close enough to catch the bird. I also learned that sometimes the journey is more fun and meaningful than the task. 

If you have to take a detour, enjoy the ride.