By Angel Alma
Trees have dropped their leaves in SE Finland, which makes the landscape look naked. Blustery winds helped, and the tail of storm Boelo did the rest.
The effect is especially strong after the colourful autumn when the sun shines low but bright and multiplies the oranges, yellows and reds of the leaves.
Only a few dry leaves or just the dark branches remain. Or so you would think. During this time of year, you can see a surprising amount because “the curtains” are off. What caught your eye in the summer has disappeared, and opened a different, but still interesting, scene.
You can easily spot birds on the branches, as I did from my vantage point on the balcony. Dogs walk by wearing reflective collars or coats to be seen.
My tuxedo brofur Aimo had a hi-vis vest too. We used to visit our friends’ house, which has a large garden. The suburbs can get very dark when the sun sets in the afternoon.
We searched for Aimo more than once when it was time to head home. He of course heard us, but kept hiding. Sometimes, we left him and asked the friends to call when he would show up. That usually happened as soon as our car left the place.
Great catting!
Needless to say, I was a good cat and came as soon as I heard Mum call my name.
Mum likes the bare, misty landscape. Birds murmurate above brown and yellow fields. In the city, rain showers decorate leafless hedges with thousands of diamonds.
In the evening, lights are lit one by one. Mum enjoyed watching this in Helsinki, waiting for the late bus. All those high house windows, humans moving behind them like shadows or ghosts.
But the big glass houses have sad side effects, too. There have been several reports of Waxwing flocks bumping against windows and balconies, found either dead or unconscious.
Humans have earlier explained them being drunk after eating rowan berries, but science has proved that a myth. Flocks often move in haste and don’t notice the glass.
BirdLife has urged humans not to plant rowan trees near houses.
You can also put something on the windows, like many stickers or a net, or Zen ropes hanging vertically. There is also a special UV window film and paint which humans cannot see but birds can see.
As we like to watch birds, let’s help birds to see, too.
