A neighbor, rather excitedly, told me she had seen a Prairie Chicken in the yard between us. No one is living there now. A Prairie Chicken? That would be almost unbelievable, but you always check out bird tips. We checked out this one and the bird was now in our back yard! It was one I had never seen, but I knew immediately it was NOT a Prairie Chicken, but a Chukar!
The Chukar was imported to the United States many years ago to be hunted. Some of them escaped so now there are colonies of Chukars in some of our western states. It is a pretty bird, about the size of a grouse.Also, it is about the size of a Banty hen. It's beak is fiery red. It has distinctive black stripes on it's sides at an angle. It has another big one running through it's eye down to the grey breast. Its throat is white. It's beak is small.It has a reddish eye ring. The nearest state where the Chukar is established is northwest Colorado. So...
what is one doing in our back yard? One of two things: It is an escapee....or it has relatives in South Texas and came for Thanksgiving, deciding the warmer climate, and birder's back yard, would be a safer place to hang out.The second one might not be so, for it is a plump, healthy- looking bird and would make excellent table fare. (Just kidding. I am giving it a reprieve. I can't guarantee it's safety from a marauding hawk, however.)
Surprises are often fun. That's why we work so hard buying the right gift for a family member or friend. It is also why we will drive or fly hundreds of miles to see someone special. Not all surprises ARE fun, however. Sometimes they come in the form of a bad report or word of a loss of property or loved-one. Maybe a fortune suddenly disappears.
The surprise of all surprises came on an Easter morning when disciples and friends of Jesus discovered with their own eyes an empty tomb. They picked up an empty gravecloth and hugged it lovingly. They ran to tell others! It was an earth-shaking, life changing, surprise. Our faith is indelibly linked to that surprise. I like surprises like that...and a visit from a Chukar.