The last line of defense
I think I deserve a medal. Or, at a minimum, a badge; just like back in Cub Scout days. A merit badge. You see, I’m the last line of defense against animals that are out of control (in my yard). Quite apart from the ongoing rodent taxi duties (another one today, after spending the afternoon in a holding cage), I added a rescue for a blue jay that got in over his head… literally.
We have feeders, filled with seeds. One lost the cap during a windstorm, and today when the level of food dropped slightly, the jay went “diving”. Got in far enough to be unable to back away. OK, the tube was vertical, and birds aren’t designed for situations that require a reversal of direction. I removed the feeder from its mount, turned it 90 degrees on the appropriate axis and shook, carefully. A very angry bird (think about that game on your smartphone) fell out, squawking in whatever dialect local jays favour, and headed for the treeline. No, not even a sign of thanks!
What to do, when the sunflower seeds act like a drug. Should we cut them off (cold wild turkey?). Provide lifeguard services (not me, I’ve done my share)? Depend on the dog to bark a warning? Or just pretend I don’t notice. I have nightmares about the newspapers sending reporters; a feature story on the evening news, naming ME as the perp. There has to be a better way.
In passing, we’ve had no mice indoors. Perhaps they’re intelligent enough to know about the other last line of defense (a better mouse trap?)
