Welcome to the thoughts and photos of FLYDDW. Texas, New Jersey, and Arizona living.

Here in Phoenix, we have what some people call "pests".  Personally, I think that we "humans" are the pests, because we plowed up a beautiful desert and replaced it with cement and houses.

So, when "pests" like scorpions, lizards, and ants come toward our homes, we call the exterminator.  I want things like scorpions and lizards to definitely stay OUTSIDE, but if a cricket or butterfly get in, I'll usually shoo it back outside.

Since I am not from Arizona, I don't have any idea the real size of a grown scorpion.  But, the three I've seen in four plus years have been, what I would call "babies".  After seeing this last one, we decided to get some more pest strip boxes.  You know, the ones with all that goo inside that traps the bugs.

Well, no sooner than we put one by our front door, it catches a lizard.  Not what I wanted, but he was so stuck that I just had to put him out of his misery.

Then, catch another lizard in the garage.  Ok, this is not good.

Today, I ran a quick errand, and left the garage door up.  When I got back, I found something VERY unexpected in the trap.

Feathers.  Upon closer observation, it was A BIRD!  Yep a bird!

His little feet caught, and his wing and head.  Oh boy!

I've had parakeets and cockatiels, so I am not afraid of birds.  I think he was tired of fighting anyway.  I softly grabbed his body to see if he would peck at me.  He didn't.

I slowly pulled on him, and gradually, his head came loose.  I got a better grip, and pulled some more.  Then his wing, and finally his foot came loose.  I held him a bit, then let him go on the ground.  He took about 3 hops, and then flew to the nearest tree.  He was ok, and finally left to live the rest of his life.

I threw the trap away.