A bird with a bad rap

By now you've probably realized I'm always looking for the silver lining, the good in people, and the little details that can make the most mundane moments in life somehow special. It's all about perspective and seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.

At the Berryessa Community Center pond.

For instance, take the humble pigeon, possibly the most maligned of all birds, often referred to as "rats with wings," and hated by many.

Of course it's a matter of opinion, and we're each entitled to our own. But I think with their soft grey plumage, iridescent collar of aqua green and red violet feathers, intensely orange eyes and pretty pink feet, pigeons are quite beautiful. Sometimes, surprisingly so.