Ravens Folly
April 25th 2008 00:18
Category: Gold Dust Fom Alaska
The crows took heed, and posted a scout hen to watch for signs of movement at the abode of fine bird cuisine; it rapidly became the in-spot for twitter-patted bird couples. Pre-nesting bird couples of course. When I take their serving tray outside and make my, “. . . dinner is served,” crow sound, the sky blackens immediately.
The first major change occurred when they mobbed a junkyard dog tough raven and sent him packing. Even when he came back with street thugs to help, the crow flock sent them packing. Even the neighbors’ cat now walks around the area when they are dining.
What got to me lately is a new tactic, one of the birds has learned to caw at me from an open window when the flock decides they’re hungry and they want food, my beauty sleep be damned because they want what they want and they want it now.
My folly: today I sat on my porch, camera in hand and took a three minute video of the birds coming and going only to accidentally erase the clip during the downloading process. And while pondering that unhappy moment I was struck low by an epiphany.
Well, ok, maybe I do; it’s got to be an Alaskan thing.
Raven
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Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Surely you know, its not just an alaskan thing?
We blame Kman - it was he who first threw out some scraps for the Kookaburras. Now its 2 Kookaburras, a flock of Koels and a magpie that has grown noticeably fat. If you walk out of the house in the afternoon they swoop around you and the Koels will come to the doors and windows and make their mournful screech.
They'll only train you better and better each day, remember that! They'll have you jumping through hoops soon, dont doubt it!
And just be thankful you dont have any Cockatoos....They destroy everything if they arent fed.
I also love how once you start feeding them they get animated - a full belly in a wild animal is such a wonderful if unnatural thing, finally you get to see them play and socialize, and their babies will be strong and healthy....And be born loving you, 'Food Source Guy'
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
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If so you will need 4 and 20 of them.
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Comment by tlcorbin
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It is entertaining, the birds are very clever little brigands, hahaha. Anyone have a cat to give away?
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Howdy kleo, oh, all right, just so those squeaky voiced hatchlings don’t start serenading me at 3am like my canaries used to do. They are amazing to watch and I will get a clip of the cocky little licorice feathered friends one way or the other.
Kman and you would love Alaska. Sorry, we don’t have snakes, crocs or migrating animals except for caribou, I hope that won’t put you off a visit.
~ ~ ~
Hi Michaelie, interestingly, they won’t come near the porch, and I’ve tried to entice them to do so. Nope, but when they feel it’s within their comfort zone, they flood in.
It’s only a simple caw, I can teach it to you in moments if you like??? You never know when it might come in handy.
~ ~ ~
Ha, one of us has children at home Damo, to readily remember that ditty; I am however over halfway there in bird numbers, it’s the baking pot and catching that is a problem now.
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Hello SL, that is the perfect description of the mixed blessing those rascals bring. Ah, the agony and ecstasy of gardening for pets; my herd of cats used to think that freshly turned soil was for their sole use as a litter box.
~ ~ ~
Thanks for visiting and commenting – sharing my life with critters has been my thing since early childhood, and it taught early on that poopie happens. But I’ll never teach the cat to use the toilet again; mom used to beat my butt for not flushing the toilet, until one day she caught the cat doing it’s business. I’m still miffed.
Raven
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
So, if you think that is bad, and I admit it does sound a little overwhelming, and bound to get worse, then try coming down here sometime and feeding some of our local characters!
Kookaburras are fine, they move in families, but you get that feeling in the back of your neck when you are trying to ignore them, and they have BIG beaks...they kill snakes for their dinner quite often!
The cockies possbily have the LOUDEST SCREECH known to mankind, and in numbers, they are formidible.
Parakeets, Rosellas, Lorikeets....well....we could go on all day listing them, they are all pack feeders with punch!
By the way, remember Hitchcock's The Birds....I'd start hammering some wood across the windows and chimney if I were you Raven, or, buy a raven bird suit, and strut around in that!!
cheers
fog
P.S. Crocs, huge monitor lizards, nasty snakes...yeah ok, we got em, BUT, we don't have athletic big bears that can out run you, and climb the tree to get you...and eat you!! That's one small mercy Aussies can be thankful for!
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
The snakes, crocs, toads, lizards and evil tourists aren't nearly as spooky to me as are tiny spiders and centipedes a foot long. . . . arrgh, I hate them.
Raven
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Now don't be like that Raven, they don't hate you! In fact, many of them just wanna snuggle up all cosy and wait till you attract a few bugs they can munch on!
Actually, if the world was suddenly rid of spiders, in one year we would be up to our nostrils in insects of all varieties!
Soooo...give em a break!
Poor "piders"... and we have some LOVELY ones down under here old chasp; the ever friendly funnel web, (hasn't killed in years!) red back (well...rather not comment on this one...ahem...), white tail (only rots your limbs), the ubiquitous black house spider (cleans house for you) and the gorgeous golden orb weaver, which prefers small birds I think...well, there they are...ok so that's not all of them, just a few HUNDERD SEETHING SNEAKING MALEVOLENT MONSTROUS KILLER SPIDERS LEFT....
Oh, and I agree about centipedes...ugly little critters, had to chuck one across the fence just last summer, after he wandered into my house.
He met with a suspected "fowl" death...tee hee!
cheers
fog
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
Raven
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
And OmiGod Fog I forgot the Orb! Oh, Raven, if you've never seen an orb you're missing out! They make their home in one place and build a huge web in the same place everynight. If they are big they are usually female and they hunt beautifully. They will help you protect the house and whisper secrets to you. Ive got video of one hunting under the feedshed light but I dont know how to load it up.
As for 'fowl' deaths....We get a lot of those. Poor frogs....
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
I'd rather face a raging brownie that a sleeping spider.
Raven
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
Raven
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by tlcorbin
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