Crazy the Bird

I made a new friend today.

As I lounged unassumingly on my Aunt's fluffy living room furniture, I heard a certain peck at the window beside me. A few seconds later, I heard it again. I could not see what was making the noise, but 3 rooms away, I heard my Aunt grumble under her breath, "that stupid bird...mumble, grumble, mumble" - just like that. I did not have to sit there much longer before I heard the peck again. This time I looked closely & right before my eyes was a cardinal ramming himself against the window.

"Peck," I hear, then he flew away. "Peck," again, but this time he fell to the ground, somewhat dizzy from the experience, I'm sure.

"I think he knocked some screws loose," my Aunt said. "A couple of month ago, we had a mirror in the backyard & he fell in love with himself & kept flying into it over & over again. We finally got rid of the mirror, and now he just flies at the window all day long. He's just so stupid."

"Maybe he's plotting to take over the house," I said. "Maybe," she laughed in reply.

I've been thinking about that bird all day (mostly because he knocks himself out after 3-5 attempts at the window, then starts up again 10 minutes later - that is one determined bird), but I just can't figure it out. Why would a bird fly into a window over & over again, day after day after day? Whatever the motive, why hasn't he given up after so many failures? He might be the Alexander Graham Bell of birds, but I imagine the only thing ringing are his ears!

All of this brings to mind another question, though. If a dizzy person sees birds circling his head, what does a bird see? I'm going to have to guess worms. It seems only proper.