The View from a Drawbridge

Every drawbridge seems to have a mascot. You’ll just have to take my word for it. On this particular bridge, our mascot is a Brown Pelican that I’ve named Sister. She sleeps on our fender system every night, and she’s definitely not a morning person. Long after other pelicans are up and harassing the fishermen for their bait scraps, Sister is still snoozing away, dreaming her bird dreams. She twists her head all the way around and nestles her beak between her wings, warm as toast, even on the coldest of nights.

No other birds hang out on our fender system, but it’s the perfect place for Sister, because she only has one leg. Staying out in the middle of the river like that means that no predators can sneak up on her. It also means that she’s elevated above the water and that helps her do her awkward hop and launch into the prevailing wind when she feels like taking flight.

Sister can balance on her one leg if need be, and she can hop, but it must be tiring. She spends the bulk of her time lying down. To be honest, she’s not the healthiest looking bird on earth, but she keeps coming back, day after day, month after month. Sister is a survivor. The cards may be stacked against her, but she doesn’t give up.

That mangy looking mascot of ours gives me hope. If she can do it, maybe I can, too. Maybe I’ll make it after all.

Sister, contemplating her fate.

My KINGDOM for a camera with a functioning zoom!