a morning echo
the crow calls its hunting sound
mockingbird hisses
Most of us know the sound of a mother mockingbird warning of danger. She is loud, raspy, persistant, and if I were a preditor I would definitely pay attention.
My neighbor has a cat from hell. A huge tomcat who marks his territory (my fence) and makes it stink. He also kills baby birds. Just kills and leaves them. I have so far picked up and buried a baby dove, a baby bluejay, a baby unknown, and those are just the ones I know about. Our county has a leash law for cats as well as dogs, but some people just ignore such rules, and there is no enforcement ever since covid. If you know of a good way to get rogue cats to stay away, please let me know. I've been using peppermint, but I think he has become used to it. Yes, I have politely spoken to the neighbor to no avail.
mixed media
I have a pump action water pistol which I use to deter unwelcome visitors. It does require that you see them, but is remarkably effective. The discouragement also seems to stick.
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
Beautiful job on that bird - love it. The ferals around here are lazy and they totally enjoyed lying around on my patio furniture. I rarely saw a dead bird in the yard. I had never heard of a leash law for cats. I have an indoor cat and I've tried a leash so i can walk but she makes me drag her around so i stopped using it, didn't want to hurt her.
ReplyDeleteOh do I know those sounds! Especially this time of the year! Your haiku is so evocative, I can truly hear it all! And I love your spring fledgling. Good luck with the tom... I'm dealing with it here too... so far... me - 0 and the cats - 100% I'm afraid they have taken over...
ReplyDeleteYes, yes...when I first started birding, I used Merlin. After so many years now, I can identify them without...even learning their songs without seeing the bird. I am a member of the Lab too. As for your request on the bunting photo....I am pleased you asked permission and I heartily say YES (on one condition...when you are done, show me your painting of it!!!)
ReplyDeleteOh your mixed media fledging is beautiful ~ love it and as for cats ~ don't know how to deter them ~ I so love the birds ~ lovely haiku too ~ Xo
ReplyDeletewishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Your haiku is beautiful, we don't have mocking birds around in the part of the Netherlands I live... but we do have cats around! I live on the first floor with a balcony but I used to have a garden and used all kinds of things to keep the cats away, (coffee grounds, orange peel, most didn't work...) but cats don't like it when the soil is covered with 'something'. I don't know how big your garden is but you could try cocoa shells, wood chips or tree bark to cover the naked ground. Good luck, and have a wonderful Sunday!
ReplyDeleteI love your mixed media fledgling ...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your Haiku too.
My good wishes.
All the best Jan
hello my sweet lover of all things birds!!! at the moment-there are no marauding outdoor cats in my neighborhood and oh how the birds have flourished!
ReplyDeleteThat cat sounds like a horrible beast. I would understand if it was eating the birds--Nature can be naturally cruel--but if the thing is just killing them *shudders*.
ReplyDeleteMy grandma used grown things like dry citrus peels, citronella, lavender, eucalyptus... and sprinkle them around things she wanted to keep feral cats from.
Magaly, I tried onion peels, chopped up, and it worked!
DeleteYour painting of the beautiful bird is awesome ~ and lovely haiku ~ wish the person would take care of the cat predator ~ sigh, Xo
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)