Our virtual nature channel
The living room window is our own virtual nature channel. From dawn to dusk, a parade of colourful creatures passes through, intent on harvesting the largest bounty of sunflower seeds they can before the opportunity ceases. There’s a political fervour.
Of course, nature draws out the rivality. In fact, I hear terms like “build a wall” and “deportation” and “cannons” tossed about, as the love of the local squirrels runs its course, and our patience. Birds are willing to eat and depart; not so, the red-tailed terrorists. We’ve upped our game, moving from the early plastic feeders to larger, armoured, surrounded by cages distribution points. To no avail.
The dog is hopeless. Faced with whatever you call a half-dozen seed-scofflers, he tends to pretend that they are invisible. Maybe he’s developing mid-aged myopia. We’ve tried sending him in the general direction, and he fails to repel borders for more than the minute required to shamble off and lie down in the warm sun.
But that’s life in the country. Unless I get a directive to develop an array of potato-blasters, I’m staying out of the fray. No arbalete overhauls. No “take an arms safety course and get something small in calibre”. I’m just a co-resident, albeit the one stuck hauling bags of seed/feed home from the warehouse.
We did see a map showing the return of the hummingbirds. Based on continental observations, we should need to hang the nectar cups by next week. Another distraction. No need to wonder if we’ll be “bored when we retire”; too much local action.
