I decided to take a day off in the middle of the week and go and commune with nature. I set off bright and early, heading towards the mountains. I was going to go to one of the public parks surrounding a reservoir. Free admittance as the public pay for those parks through their water rates. Once a year there's an extra charge on your bill for park maintenance.
Seeing it was the middle of the week I didn't expect that there would be too many people at the park and I was going to stroll around the longest path they had. I'd get some exercise and enjoy good scenery, there being some magnificent views up that high.
I had a backpack with food and drinks and I was set for a leisurely day with no problems. Once I was at the park I visited the official kiosk that they had and picked up a couple of packets of unsalted peanuts. For some reason the rosellas loved peanuts and would come down and land on your hands if you offered them. I'd take some selfies when I fed them -- you never know how they'll turn out.
After an hour or so I was deep in the park when I spotted some rosellas in the trees. Normally you only see rosellas in pairs as they are rather territorial, but they do accumulate, however, when there is a decent supply of feed. Seeing the birds seemed to be watching me it was my guess that they had me marked as sucker of the day and were waiting for nuts.
To test this theory I tossed a small handful towards the nearer trees. There was an immediate outcry and the peanuts didn't stop bouncing on the ground before they were all gone. The birds then turned to regard me again.
I held out my hand, peanuts on my palm, and the birds descended. I had five on my hand in an instant, with several others on my arm, edging down and trying to push their way in. I had my phone out and was trying for some selfies. I was somewhat startled when someone spoke.
"Let me take the photos," I was told and the phone was taken from my hand. I didn't hang one on the man as all he did was step back and take a few photos. As soon as the peanuts were gone so were the birds, although they were in the trees and watching.
"What was all that about?" asked a sweet voice and I turned to look.
The man wasn't alone. He was accompanied by a very lovely young lady. Twentyish, blonde, heart shaped face, fair skin, and a sensational figure. She was wearing a short sundress and I was prepared to swear she wasn't wearing a bra. Not with her breasts gently swaying the way they were.
I mentally slapped myself and told myself not to be silly and addressed her question, not her figure.
"The rosellas love nuts," I explained. "They'll come if you scatter them around and, as you saw, eat off your hand if you hold some out for them. I've even known them to land on people's heads while waiting their turn at the goodies."
"Oh? Do you have any more nuts?"
"I do, but you can always buy some down at the kiosk."
"We're not going back to the kiosk," the man said, firmly, talking to the woman.
"I know. I know." She turned and gave me a dazzling smile. "Would you be able to lets us have some? I'd love to have some photos taken with some rosellas."
"Why not," I said with a grin. I was prepared to pour some nuts into her hand when she told me to hold back for a moment. I swear I could have swallowed my tongue when she whipped off her sundress and tossed it over to the man. I'd been right about her not having a bra on but I hadn't gone far enough. She didn't have a stitch on under the dress and she was now standing there naked. She held out her hands and I poured some nuts into her palm, moving like an automaton as I was feeling somewhat stunned. She was really sensational.
"Mind standing over here?" called the man. "Sorry, but I don't want you in the shots."
I didn't care where I stood. I was just happy to stand and stare. She opened her hand and the rosellas descended. She was half laughing, half squealing, as the birds had their dinner, while the man with the camera pranced about taking a multitude of shots.
"Quick, more nuts," he ordered as soon as it seemed she'd been cleaned out.
I strolled back to where she was standing, enjoying the view the whole way. I gave her a larger handful and asked if she wanted to hold the bag. She shook her head, looking a little nervous about the birds. (They're quite big birds and their talons are rather sharp. I could see she had tiny little pricks on the arms, courtesy of those talons.)
I stepped back and to the side, letting me drop a few nuts on her hair without her noticing. Then I retreated to the camera man.
She was expecting the birds on her arm and hand and was rather blasé about it. She wasn't expecting a couple of birds to perch on her head and there was nothing blasé about her reaction. Pure shock was how I'd define the look on her face.
The cameraman was giggling as he took his pictures. I managed to sneak a few too, using my phone.
As soon as those nuts were gone she started brushing her hands together.
"That's it," she said. "No more nuts."
"Hold on," she was told. "Just put your dress back on for a moment."
"Okay, now lift your hands as high as you can," he said, and she did that.
