I Feel a Whoop Coming On

My friends and I are here! The journey was long and we’re tired, but I feel a whoop coming on so I shout it:

Whoop, whoop!

My friends shout back:

Whoop, whoop!

The breeze is wonderful. We swoop in, eager to eat and rest—but only for a night. The mountains wrap around the valley. It’s stunning.

Whoop, whoop!

Whoop, whoop!

Many years I’ve made this journey. We’re halfway there. The young ones don’t know the beauty of the north, but they will soon. My heart leaps for them. I say to a child:

Whoop, whoop!

It tries to say it back:

Whoo. Whop.

Happiness overcomes me. I feel like dancing, so I throw my head up and back. My feet take me to the left. They take me to the right. Tail feathers high. Tail feathers low. I dance this way because that’s how this dance goes. Everyone knows. My sweetheart loves my dance. She says:

Whoop, whoop!

As night falls, we huddle together. There’s safety in numbers. A coyote howls in the distance; another, closer.

No one whoops.

The chill of the pre-dawn morning will lift soon. I’ve seen it hundreds of times, but here, in the San Luis Valley, the sunrise never disappoints. There it is. Watch! Look!

Whoop, whoop!

I shout to the humans, binocular-eyed and laden with cameras. The colors of the sunrise, yellow, red, purple, are unmatched as it lifts above the snow-capped mountains to the valley east. Look, people. Exalt the sunrise with me:

Whoop, whoop!

Many of my friends overnighted near a lake, and they’ve risen early to join us. They circle to land near me, legs spread, wings spread. We’re told our descent is ridiculous, but our landings are efficient. They say:

Whoop, whoop.

I say:

Whoop, whoop.

As they plant their feet on the ground and tuck their wings to their sides, the humans click and point and hum. The wait is almost over; I feel the buzz. The sun is cresting the peak now, and it’s unsaid, but we all know what’s coming. A few elders bob their heads. Then:

Whoop? Whoop? Whoop?

Whoop. Whoop. Whoop.

Whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop!

Blast off! Good bye, people. We’re off to Canada. See you in the fall.

Whoop, whoop!