Conversation with a Sea Bird

There are times when you can take too much of Key West with you into the Gulf of Mexico. Key West is packed with much to do and has proved to be a necessary escape. The Southern Gulf is a good escape during times when other places to go are not accessible. However, too much of Key West out in the Southern Gulf could have you talking to birds.

The Kid was under the weather. It was not the weather, but a can of some kind of reddish sauce that had The Kid sprawled out below decks wishing escape from red sauce was accessible.

We were out of sight from land sailing away from the Ft. Myers to Key West ferry lanes. Key West slipped underwater to the east and dreams of Veracruz to the southwest were ripe for R.E.M. whether asleep or not. As I was contemplating if The Kid would be upset if we headed to Mexico or not, I found myself in the waters between reality and fantasy. This is the part of Key West that may be too much out to sea. Key West characters are borderline make-believe. Key West can do that to you. Out in the Gulf there is the weather, the seas, and the vessel herself that do need the attention that complete make-believe does not allow. A cloud bank was gathering to the west and I was beginning to gather it to my vivid imagination as the coast of Mexico raising off the bow.

I had not dozed off. And, as sometimes is my custom, I had not dozed on. I was rather focused, but a bit weary being concerned about The Kid's red sauce episode that had more the drama of a series than a single episode, when we were struck by a rogue wave. There are always rogue waves in any given wave sequence. Some are more to be concerned about and to contend with and the others just little oddities that come with a roll or a thump. This was but a thump, but it did get my attention. Alert, my focus went from the Gulf surface to sloop surface.

The wave, or the wind had brought a visitor. I did not see it come in or land, but there it was on deck. A sea bird stood a few feet from me. It tried not to look me in the eye as it kept a weary eye on my position. I have had encounters with sea birds before, but not until then have I had a full conversation with one.

"Tired?" I broke the silence.

It slightly ruffled its feathers and bobbed its head.

Some could have taken this as just any preening, but not me. Birds, besides preening for weatherproofing and parasites, also preen socially to bond. This fellow had come from some distant land and was worn out. There are times when we all are worn from travel no matter the adventure. This traveler needed to rest.

"Take your time. So, where you from. You local, or a visitor?"

He cocked his head and his bill slightly opened and as it did it jutted out toward the eastern horizon.

"Oh. Key West?" I replied.

He preened again in agreement.

It must have known we had been to Key West, and had brought some of it to sea with us. The preening was a bonding movement to connect us more socially. After-all, we had Key West in common.

"Been to Captain Tony's lately?"

He just stared and then tucked his bill under his wing. As he brought it back out he wagged his head from side to side and flapped his wing.

"No, huh? Well you've been away."

The more I behaved in a baseline behavior the more relaxed he became. I kept talking to him and steered the sloop in harmony with the movement of the water. As I did his neck curved more and compacted as he became more relaxed.

He pushed out his bill and made sudden squawk-like sound. It was like an alarm type of noise. Just the moment after, another rouge wave struck us and we rolled to starboard. He ruffled his feathers like he was going to take off but settled back with his curve-necked relaxation posture.

"Thanks for the warning," I acknowledged, "I guess I should have listened to your warning."

We sat for a full thirty minutes discussing travel, escaping the stresses of life, the Gulf waters, and Key West. From what I could gather, he was a native of Key West but often had to work away from home. He prefered boat travel, but flying was his destiny. The fishing off-shore was still pretty good, but dead spots move around here and there, so he had to travel more than he would like to. We discussed how things in general are more difficult as we age. Both agreed that wisdom is a fine thing, but that youth has its advantages especially when wings tire more quickly. Neither one of us were complaining, just reflecting on the changes that present their challenges.

"Well my friend I need to take a tack back to the northeast. The weather is really gathering out there. You gotta go now if you are going home today." Before I began the maneuver he flapped his wings and lifted off toward Key West. I made the tack north and then east and expected to see him fly around the mast in a farewell gesture of thanks, but instead saw him growing smaller and smaller as he winged his way east. As I looked back over the deck I saw that he had left me the customary bird gift that sea birds leave on boats. I decide I would wash it off later. I was sure it had some social bonding meaning.

The Kid moaned below deck. This time our Key West reminders we took to sea with us would need time to pass and scrubbing things down later I would remember my winged friend and how he was so gracious to share conversation with me so I could keep my focus on keeping our sloop on course and not succumb to the red sauce that I had shared with The Kid.

The Captain and The Kid