Turkey Vulture
During a late afternoon on a lovely day last week I did a double take as I found an unexpected bird on the lawn – a Turkey Vulture! It had discovered a dead Eastern Chipmunk only moments earlier and was preparing to do its job. I was with my Shetland Sheepdog, Zach, who had not seen the bird over the slight hill in the lawn. I walked back to him, bent down and told him to look at this bird as I pointed. He eagerly glanced around and spotted it, eyes widening and slowly creeping towards it out of curiously and intrigue despite my cautioning. He held at this position, head forward,...
Read MoreAmerican Crow hunting acorns
I spotted this American Crow having a delightful time watching all of the action around it as more American Crows plus Blue Jays, squirrels and chipmunks all eagerly grabbed countless acorns under an oak tree. In this shot it almost seemed like it was gleefully sizing up the tree, taking an account of how much stock was left in this giant store. There are feeding frenzies going on all around us with wildlife storing food for the winter during a very helpful warm November stretch. That is about to end as colder than average temperatures are coming for the mid-month with some snow in the...
Read MoreNot a cat’s play toy
This is an Eastern Chipmunk. It is not a cat’s play toy. I did not witness its death but considering how much one of the local cats seems to enjoy hunting them in the area I found it plus the fresh, pungent aroma that feline left behind immediately next to the body I can surmise how it happened. Even if it was not that cat this occurs many, many times…millions upon millions…to small birds and mammals each day. Besides the death of wildlife why do we allow our small fur children to run amok in the dangerous outdoors? We all need to bring our cats in the house, no matter...
Read MoreBirds and small mammals can’t read
I have spotted wayyy too many cats outdoors today with a lot of small passerine targets and even a dead chipmunk that was likely the work of a furry family member. See this sign? Birds and other small mammals can’t read. You can. Bring them indoors permanently, please, so these are the only cats we see outside.
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