OPINION — Editorial

Bombs away!

The streets of Little Rock's Pulaski Heights neighborhood are peaceful in the early morning, given over to dog walkers, joggers, coffee drinkers on porches, groups of friends out for a stroll while it's still cool.

Peaceful, that is, except for the southwest corner of Stonewall and North Harrison streets, across from Fire Station No. 10. Danger lurks here. Not from firetrucks springing into action. The threat comes from a smaller but still substantial threat: a northern mockingbird.

This vicious creature has twice attacked a passer-by who means no harm, the sort of person who moves wayward turtles out of the middle of the road, greets cats, and waves at the staff in Boulevard Bread Co. Despite being honored as Arkansas' state bird, the gray and white menace has no mercy, diving recklessly at this perceived interloper, using wings to deliver a smack to the head and shoulders, then giving chase as the startled victim picks up the pace to a flat-out run in order to escape the abuse.

"Somebody's protecting their babies," shouts a guy who's running by with his dog (they're safe, apparently, for being on the other side of the street). Makes sense that there's likely a nest in the dense trees on that particular corner. Now if the put-upon victim would only remember from one day to the next to make a turn before approaching the mockingbird fortress. This bird, when agitated, is serious.

Editorial on 06/29/2017

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