International Studies- Photo Contest

Feed the Birds

Jen Wahlquist

Category: Interaction
Spain Term
✠ Photo: Venice, Italy San Marco’s Square

San Marco’s Square is infested with pigeons. Everywhere you step, you run the risk of being squawked at. And then instead of shooing them away, you pay € 1 for birdfeed and invite them to climb all over you! Betsy (pictured) and I could have fed them all afternoon. The feeling of birds flying at you is frightening yet funny, and somehow freeing. Laughter bubbles up from the deepest parts of your being, and as you sit there in the middle of this historic square, on the dirty floor, with the icky pigeons nesting in your hair, all is right with the world.