I am blessed with a cast of characters in my back yard menagerie that would rival any Shakespearean drama/comedy (if in mammalian & avian form)...I have Riddick the (fat) Gray Rat that haunts a series of tunnels underneath a White Oak tree directly behind my kitchen window. There are too many Squirrels to name, with the exception of Helen, whose tail has been broken so many times that it resembles a battered cat toy. Two Chipmunk regulars include the glossy and radiant Chelsea and her sometimes paramour Currahee. He received his name from the battle cry of WWII's Easy Company (506th Paratroop Regiment). Poor Currahee has several white scars on his back and flanks, resembling the claw marks of a raptor of some sort. There are two Brewer's Blackbirds who skittishly pick at the groundseed, their yellow bug-eyes watching for any movement from the other side of my windows. I have named this pair September & October.
There are many other wonderful creatures that capture my attention and imagination...all the gorgeous little cowled Towhees that jump-scratch through the leaves looking for worms and beetle larvae...the Cardinal family units that feed each other and mock-fight in the air...the raucous Blue Jays that will band together to chase off a Hawk as quickly as they will any of the little birds...the tiny, cheerful Titmice and Chickadees that bring so much joy...However, I have completely fallen under the spell of the Passerine Oscine birds of the Corvidae family also known as the Common Crow. (Other corvids include Ravens, Blue Jays, Magpies, etc.)
At first I was repelled by these noisy, horrific birds. Strange for me - the brooding, dark and sometimes sinister artist... Anyway, the crows have used my birdbath as a depository for destroyed small blue bird eggs, mangled baby bird remains, half-eaten infant squirrels, hard pepperoni pizza crusts, tiny moles, soggy pretzels, garter snakes, and so many more disgusting items. I was angry with the crows, especially at their skill for picking off the weak and defenseless. However, I soon began to realize that there was another force at work - a strong family bond that could not be broken. After observing the crows for some time, I gained utmost respect for these intelligent, powerful and sometimes dark, sinister, brooding birds...I realized there was a family unit - the majestic Nicodaemus & his slightly smaller mate, Anastassia. The day they brought their fledgling lovechild to our birdbath was an exciting day for me. Darren & I named the "baby" crow (he's almost as big as his parents!) Hermes. Watching this trio has been quite fascinating. If I can ever gain their trust somewhat, I will do my best to take photos of them to post here.
There are many other wonderful creatures that capture my attention and imagination...all the gorgeous little cowled Towhees that jump-scratch through the leaves looking for worms and beetle larvae...the Cardinal family units that feed each other and mock-fight in the air...the raucous Blue Jays that will band together to chase off a Hawk as quickly as they will any of the little birds...the tiny, cheerful Titmice and Chickadees that bring so much joy...However, I have completely fallen under the spell of the Passerine Oscine birds of the Corvidae family also known as the Common Crow. (Other corvids include Ravens, Blue Jays, Magpies, etc.)
At first I was repelled by these noisy, horrific birds. Strange for me - the brooding, dark and sometimes sinister artist... Anyway, the crows have used my birdbath as a depository for destroyed small blue bird eggs, mangled baby bird remains, half-eaten infant squirrels, hard pepperoni pizza crusts, tiny moles, soggy pretzels, garter snakes, and so many more disgusting items. I was angry with the crows, especially at their skill for picking off the weak and defenseless. However, I soon began to realize that there was another force at work - a strong family bond that could not be broken. After observing the crows for some time, I gained utmost respect for these intelligent, powerful and sometimes dark, sinister, brooding birds...I realized there was a family unit - the majestic Nicodaemus & his slightly smaller mate, Anastassia. The day they brought their fledgling lovechild to our birdbath was an exciting day for me. Darren & I named the "baby" crow (he's almost as big as his parents!) Hermes. Watching this trio has been quite fascinating. If I can ever gain their trust somewhat, I will do my best to take photos of them to post here.
No comments:
Post a Comment