Rescue

Little sweetheart, it’s been a wonderful year for birds reappearing in the city. Maybe some of the lack of travel during the pandemic accounts for it but regardless it’s been so lovely seeing so many different little avian friends and hearing their songs. It always takes me to you instantly. 

What I’d been sad not to see much of yet, and we’re well into the season, is butterflies. At the top of the Serpentine in Riverside Park there used to be a tree there at the very northern edge of the garden where monarchs in particular seemed to love to alight. They cut it back, pruning its branches, quite a bit last winter and I wonder if that’s why I still haven’t seen even one yet. There have been some pretty white satin moths but I’d hardly seen even one butterfly until yesterday when I spotted a little black swallowtail on the sidewalk near Dewitt Clinton Park. 

He was just laying there, alive but somehow injured or stunned. I carefully picked him up and placed  him in the bushes above, reaching through the railing there. 

We all need taking care of, don’t we, little sweetheart? 

I hope our little friend recovers and is okay. And my thoughts, as ever, fly to you. With all my love…