Little Swoops Hops Across California Street. Man In Jean Jacket Jumps In Front Of Moving Traffic To Save Little Swoops. Crowd Panics.

Around 3:00 pm this afternoon, as the crowd looked on, Little Swoops took off from the safety of the motorcycle parking area and headed down Front Street toward the California Street intersection. The crowd mummered "no, no"..."oh no." Yes. Little Swoops hopped head on into the oncoming California Street traffic. The light was green. The traffic was coming. The crowd froze. We held our breath. A man in a jean jacket ("Jean Jacket Man") reacted without pause. Jean Jacket Man ran toward Little Swoops. He jumped in front of an oncoming SUV and stopped it. The crowd exhaled. Jean Jacket Man stood between the SUV and Little Swoops and put his hands up to stop traffic. Jean Jacket Man announced to all four directions of traffic ... "there is a baby bird out here." The SUV driver couldn't see Little Swoops (being only 3 inches high) and began to honk. Jean Jacket Man held his ground. The SUV started to move. Jean Jacket Man again put up his hands held the SUV back. Little Swoops continued to hop erratically through the intersection. Jean Jacket Man continued to hold the traffic back and encouraged Little Swoops to keep moving. The car drivers then seemed to realize Little Swoops was in the middle of the road. The cars did not move. They let the green light turn red. Little Swoops continued to cross the road. Jean Jacket Man was by him his side every step and pointed Little Swoops in the direction of the curb. Little Swoops made it to the other side of California Street to safety. Phew! The crowd sighed and verbally expressed to each other how horribly wrong that could have gone. Swoops flew over the intersection toward Little Swoops. Swipes was not in sight. Little Swoops started to walk down sidewalk. Jean Jacket Man followed after him. A seagull circled and then landed in the 101 California Street fountain (about 60 feet from Little Swoops). Swoops immediately landed in the fountain. The seagull flew away. Swoops took back to flight. Little Swoops hopped over to a blue metal cafe table where a man was having his lunch ("Lunch Man"). Swoops found Little Swoops, landed next to him and chirped and chirped at him. Little Swoops stared at Swoops. Swoops flew up and perched in a tree above. Little Swoops sat under the cafe table for a moment. He looked calm. Little Swoops then hopped up on Lunch Man's shoe. It was adorable. There he sat. Swoops sat above looking down. Little Swoops went on and off Lunch Man's shoe three times. Lunch Man glanced down but did not appear interested in Little Swoops or Jean Jacket Man who hovered over Lunch Man's back. Little Swoops tried to walk up the pedestal of the metal table and slipped off. He hopped to the next metal table and again up the pedestal and again slipped off. The crowd encouraged him to keep trying. Jean Jacket Man and Swoops stayed close behind. Little Swoops stopped a few feet away at a planter full of pink petunias. It was a nice spot. Jean Jacket Man took a rest on the cement stadium seats directly across from the planter. Little Swoops hopped up into the planter and landed right in the middle of the petunias. Precious! Jean Jacket Man was looking on and beaming with joy. Swoops circled and landed in the tree above the petunias. Little Swoops opened his mouth. Swoops flew off and returned moments later with a cracker. Swoops flew down to the petunias and fed the cracker to Little Swoops. They both looked happy. Swoops sat with Little Swoops for a bit in the petunias. Side by side. Father and son. Swoops then flew back up to the tree above the petunias and stood guard. Swoops looked relieved. Little Swoops slipped down further into the petunias. A man walked by the planter. Whoops! Swoops hit him twice. The man brushed his head. We told him Little Swoops was in the planter. The man looked down and continued walking. Swoops returned to the tree. Little Swoops closed his eyes and rested. Swoops stood guard. Swipes could not be found. Reports have been made that Swipes did indeed find Little Swoops later in the day. Further reports are that Little Swoops remains in the petunias and Swipes and Swoops are now residing in the tree above. What a day for everyone. Thank you Jean Jacket Man. Thank you!