Crafty Cranes and Tykes for Turtles

Alfred Hitchcock had it right.

After two months of Gulf Coast oil spill-inspired volunteering at the seabird sanctuary and hospital, I have come to the conclusion that Hitchcock’s The Birds (story by Daphne Du Maurier) is no fiction. More probably, it is an unauthorized biography of some poor fool who thought helping birds at his or her local sanctuary was a relaxing feel-good way to fulfill civic responsibility.

No, the truth is, the birds are out to get us! Or, at least me ….

Now why would this animal loving, 2 cats in the family, avid campaigner against animal abuse and careless environmental degradation say such a thing?!?

First it was the pelicans – well, one sneaky individual pelican to be precise, who decided my leg looked a lot like breakfast. If you missed it, check out the infamous Pelican Brief.

This week it was a crane. I was preparing sit down on a foot-tall stool about 1/3 the size of my backside to feed some baby bluebirds, when out of the corner of my eye I saw the injured crane lunge towards me. I bucked, and toppled back off the stool onto my back, cracked my elbow and dumped raw meat and formula all over my chest. Lovely ….

To be fair to the bird in question, it was later clarified that Mr. Crane was merely lunging toward some food on the floor near my feet and not at me. The evidence in his favor did little to keep me from swearing quietly at Mr. Crane the rest of my volunteer shift as the bruises began to display mini-rainbows on various parts of my body… though I did pet him on my way out the door.

So I ask you, would anyone blame me if I never went back?

Well, of course I will go back #iamaSucker #iknow ….

But for the next few days at least I will turn my back on those beaky little fly-boys and instead turn my attention to turtles thanks to the amazing effort of two youngsters, Jack and Hala.

You can read all the details here, but @QueenofSpain ‘s (Erin Kotecki Vest’s) 7 year old son and 5 year old daughter were so moved by the story of oil-soaked turtles along the Gulf Coast and effort to save them, that they put up six of their hand-drawn pictures for auction with all monies going to Sea Turtle relief organizations.

Each picture will go to the highest bidder. The bidding ends July 10, 2010 at midnight.

I cannot think of a better way for us all to demonstrate our commitment to working towards the common good.

To support not only the efforts to save turtles from the oil spill, but, also to support two young children who have more gumption than most adults I know, I will donate $5.00 for EVERY person who reads this blog and makes a bid on the Vest children’s artwork (whether you win it or not).

Comment here, email me or message me via Twitter to let me know, so I can keep track.

NOTE: YOU MUST LET ME KNOW TO GET THE $5 DONATION!!!! IF YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE A DONATION RATHER THAN BID ON A PICTURE, I WILL ALSO GIVE A $5 DONATION!!!!