Last night at 8, when I opened the door to let in a guest, two birds 
suddenly appeared on the door step. It was the pair of Carolina Wrens 
who live around here and usurp the flower box by our door every year for 
a nest. Apparently they had been roosting in the wreath on the door and 
fell out when I opened it. One of them fly out and away, but the other 
flew into the house and into the living room. I tried to open a window 
and gently shoo it out, but it was not cooperating. Finally, it settled 
on the very top of the Christmas tree. Everyone, including the bird, 
froze for a long moment, then it flew out the still-open front door. The 
last bird of 2005, and the most striking tree ornament I have ever seen.

--John McKitterick
Columbia, MD
jbmck at comcast.net