I can hear fluttering, like someone is lashing a wooden board with a strip of velvet, it draws me slowly back to consciousness. Without opening my eyes I stretch out and feel a cool spot at my toes. I smile and listen to the fluttering. As I move steadily toward a more conscious state I hear more sounds; I hear...chirping. Light chirping sounds mixed in with the fluttering. I breath in deeply and then roll back and forth slightly, trying to work my way back into warm sleep. I try relaxing and letting myself fall back into my dream, but it is too late. I am awake. I lie there for a moment and listen to the birds outside my window. I roll over and slowly unzip the nylon panel that covers the screen window in my tent. I open the zipper no more than two inches and pull it open to spy on the birds. I search for them in the gray of early dawn. At first I don't see them, they are further away than I expected. I finally catch sight of them, a blur of gray amongst the darker gray of morning. The two birds flit and flutter around each other, taking jabs when the other one leaves an opening, bobbing and weaving away from each others beaks and talons. This early morning ritual has something to do with mating, I try to remember what, but I can't.