Gone bird

 Nugget is gone.

Again.

And I'm afraid for good.

We were able to track him across the street and high up in a tree, first in front of Miss Gwen's house, then in the top of a tree in the back yard a couple doors down. We called to him, set up his cage in the backyard, Hubby said he could hear elder's anguished calling for Nugget from inside our house, which is no small feat and a testament to elder's lung power.

I watched an accipiter pass high over head.  His shadow paused over the tree and he moved on.

And he passed over again about 15 minutes later.

Nugget called back down, fluttered his wings, tried to edge down the tree, and after two hours, took off, east/southeast.  I bolted after him, foolishly thinking I could keep up.  But that was the last I saw of him. 

I thought I heard him as I endlessly walked the neighborhood, working in a spiral as all bird experts say you should. 

But here's the thing. Temperature is going to be below freezing tonight. Hiding will be harder. 

I'm afraid I won't see him again. 

He has brought me so much joy in the last two years. 

My sadness right now is at least as deep as that.