Several years ago, a young and lusty robin showed up outside our bedroom windows. It made its presence known by flying at the windows, hard. It did this over and over and over, starting about 5 am. It was, we assume, attacking the young and lusty robin it saw in the mirrored window so as to claim first dibs on the crab apple tree as a nesting spot.

We named that robin “Demento.” After banging on the windows and shining lights outward, we hung a section of netting from cup hooks installed on the outside of the windows. Once “The Dementor Preventor” went up, we started sleeping again.

We thought that the netting helped Demento realize that the macho robin he had been fighting wasn’t really there. What was probably true was that the angle of light had changed so he couldn’t see himself so readily, plus the levels of bird-testosterone in his system came down. 

Most springs, there still comes a time when we have to hoist the Dementor Preventor from underneath the bedroom window, brush off the dried grass, and hang it up again. 

Demento’s delusions are persistent and contagious. He not only learned to fly under the netting and attack the glass; he also taught a yellow-rumped warbler to do the same. That warbler perched in the mesh and made small forays at the glass for several days but, happily, got tired of the drama. However, two tiny golden-crowned kinglets have taken his place. Staring angrily at the window, bright-orange tufts raised, they flit close enough to scratch the window and then back to the net. Over and over and over.

During these early waking hours, I think about fear and projection: how often our fear makes us see danger where danger does not exist. There is real danger in this situation, danger that these beautiful bundles of feather, muscle, and hormones might wear themselves out. They could use up all the calories intended to fuel nest building. However, that’s not the danger spring-addled birdies perceive: instead, they see a competitor in their territory.

As any self-reflective being knows, we humans tend to project our worst traits onto others. We worry that someone is going to disrespect us, so we treat others with disrespect. We fear not being valued, and devalue others. We egg each other on into a spiral of angry anxiety.

It’s not hard to notice those who are particularly skilled at this kind of scapegoating. Whatever it is they don’t like about themselves, they project onto others and then make a point of calling it out. This leads at the very least to hurt feelings. At a larger level it leads to dysfunctional governments, messed-up voluntary societies, lost civility and venomous social media.

I wish I had a dementor preventor for some of what I see happening. Until we can figure where to hang the net, though, let’s all stay away from those mirrored windows. Let’s back away when it gets noisy. When someone shines a light, remember that it’s done in love, to prevent injury.