Avian delinquents
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. …”
“We’ve grown used to your presence”
“Familiarity breed contempt”
Very early this morning, with the first coffee of the day barely decanted, I sat down near the open door to the patio. A strange sound, much like a squeaking screen door came from outside. On the railing by the pool, two crows were perched with my prized plastic owl just a metre away.
That same owl that, only two years ago, kept all the dirty birds away from their (my) swimming pool. That same owl we purchased on a visit to Ontario, since there were no more left in our area. That same owl that did such a commendable job has become a BIRD JOKE. A FAKE. A FRAUD.
So what do we do now? Do we install some sort of cannon like they’ve now got down in the port area and out by the airport? Do I train the dog to do proactive intervention, leaping and barking every time an avian visitor approaches? Do I follow the lead of Charlottetown and call in consultants to save my personal Victoria Park? Must I prepare my family for an eventual onslaught of avian influenza?
I’m open to suggestions.
