By Michelle Rafferty
The Oxford Comment guest star Jon (featured on Episodes 1 and 4.5) recently wrote in with this shocking, yet true story:
I was on the UWS on Saturday and noticed this bright orange/green/blue bird standing on the sidewalk chirping. It looked pretty out of place. I went to say hi to him and he flew up and landed on the shoulder of one of the people I was with (see picture on right). We figured he must have escaped from an apartment window or something. Poor guy was not equipped to handle the freezing cold, so I held onto him and ventured into Columbia’s campus for help. Everyone was very concerned. Then a student told us he was familiar with a good vet in town and offered to bring him in. He was a handsome little fella (the bird).*
Here’s hoping this little bird found his owners! And if you are looking for a quick ornithological fix, I recommend A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil by Ber van Perlo.
*Upon closer inspection of said photo, Jon surmised the species of the little birdy to be Green-rumped Parrotlet. If you have better guesses, please let us know.