I was sitting at the kitchen table this morning reading the Washington Post when Jack started screaming his head off. The last time he screamed in that tone of voice the second plane had just hit the second tower in New York City. Oh, my gosh, I thought to myself our house must be on fire! Then Jack yelled, "Look at the bird feeders! Quick, look at the bird feeders!" Oh no, that gosh darn coopers hawk is back and has killed another bird I thought to myself. So with fear in my heart I looked out the window and what to my wondrous eyes did I see but a young deer helping itself to the bird seed! It was just standing next to the irises and eating away. When I got up close to the window the young fawn got spooked and leaped thru the flowerbed, over the lawn and across the street. No wonder my hollyhocks and hostas have been attacked. And no wonder Jack couldn't understand how the birds were going thru so much bird seed. He would fill the feeders at 8:00 P.M. and by 8:00 A.M. they were empty again! So what am I going to do? I'm putting the bird seed away for awhile. The birds and all other wildlife will have to manage on their own or hitchhike to Ohio to Mr. Abraham Lincoln's bird feeders. I know. I know. I'm punishing the birds for what the deer did. But isn't that always the case. The good guys get punished because of the antics of the bad guys. Well, that's life. And when I went back to The Post I read that the neighboring county has wary homeowners because black bears have been sighted foraging for food in the burbs. Well, that really does it for me. I'm not interested in seeing black bears in my yard. The bird feeders are now history.
Oh my goodness, what a story. I was on the edge of my seat as I was reading.....hawks, deer, bears. Help!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. Just when your backyard was getting to be a nature habitat and sanctuary you pulled the plug.
ReplyDeleteIf I had deer here I would flop over and drown in my tears of joy but have a stroke trying to imagine the reaction of my neighbors.
My neighbors liked my pretty flowers and my endless lessons in landscaping, and the young handsome dude digging up his dirt without a shirt, and things like that.
But they don't like raccoons tracking through their yards during the day and dragging in fleas with them (they actually said that, though "they" were drunk and shouting over the fence).
So deer wouldn't work for me for long.
I would be thrilled to get a black bear or a cougar or a panther or a wolf or a fox or a coyote or even a skunk but they would complain about them too.
So I am satisfied feeding the birds; even the squawking kinds, and nursing the sick squirrels as best I can and hope when St Peter sees me he will say, "Come on it."
I love your lonesome Mourning Dove on the feeder that was.
J&J: Why don't you try half a load at 9AM and see if that keeps your birds around.
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