Marla Snyder
"Hoopoe the Hipster"
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| (Photos by Patrick Fraser) |
The Hoopoe bird (named after its call), nests and resides in Israel. Migrating populations spend their winters in India and Africa. They are very unique and hip looking with their bold stripes, long curved beak and funky ‘do. When not in the air, they squat down and throw their head in the air with a little drama.
The hipster has moxie too! They remind me a bit of my children. I would describe my adult kids as birds in flight. My youngest son is newly married and living temporarily in Tel Aviv (The Hoopoe happens to be the State Bird of Israel). My step daughter is getting married soon and moving to New Delhi. Hoopoes don’t make a typical nest.
Fortunately, my oldest son and his wife live in Chicago. They are traveling a great deal this year. Luckily, we get to take care of their baby hoopoe, Sophia while they are gone. Baby hoopoes have the ability to secrete a stinky odor to ward off predators. I told Sophia that we are warning our ferocious golden retriever.