Monthly Archives: June 2013

Go away, birds of prey!

  By packbawky | 16/06/2013 - 2:39 pm |
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Eagle Abuse

The eagles were out in force, today. I saw three (not all at the same time): two baldies and a golden. Unfortunately, the gulls were also about, and not at all willing to share their patch. Every eaglish glimpse I caught was brief: I’d be alerted to the presence of something interesting by the chorus of gullie squawks, and look up to see an eagle being chased over the rooftops, and away.

Every time a righteous bird of prey comes sailing over the water, this happens! Every single time! THIS is why I never get a proper look at one. THIS, right here! Come on, eagle; turn around and peck that gull.

Every time a righteous bird of prey comes sailing over the water, this happens! Every single time! THIS is why I never get a proper look at one. THIS, right here! Come on, eagle; turn around and peck that gull.

Abused Crow

I’m afraid my pictures of the crow are no better than those of the eagle: my primary concern is to stay out of the injured bird’s way, and let him eat as much as he can. He seems more wary of me than usual, in his battered condition. Now is not the time to stick my lens in his face. I have, however, managed to sneak a few shots from under the windowledge and behind the railing. I think one can really see progress, here (in terms of the crow’s condition, not my proficiency with the camera):

He doesn't seem to be able to bend his legs, to spring into the sky. Nonetheless, here he comes! He uses his wings to launch, with only a slight push from his good foot. It looks quite laborious, but apparently gets the job done.

He doesn’t seem to be able to bend his legs, to spring into the sky. Nonetheless, here he comes! He uses his wings to launch, with only a slight push from his good foot. It looks quite laborious, but apparently gets the job done.

Here, he can be seen standing on both legs. Clearly, he's very wobbly; as soon as he found a comfortable position, he sat back down. But it's a positive sign that he's still getting some use out of his damaged leg, however limited.

Here, he can be seen standing on both legs. Clearly, he’s very wobbly; as soon as he found a comfortable position, he sat back down. But it’s a positive sign that he’s still getting some use out of his damaged leg, however limited.

He hasn't stopped for a mid-dinner squawk, on the right. He just has terrible table manners, and is chewing with his beak open. (Inasmuch as one can describe a bird as "chewing," that is. Or as having table manners.) I've noticed he's very quiet, since his injury. He no longer squawks upon arrival or departure, or during his meal. This is probably to avoid attracting unwanted competition.

He hasn’t stopped for a mid-dinner squawk, on the right. He just has terrible table manners, and is chewing with his beak open. (Inasmuch as one can describe a bird as “chewing,” that is. Or as having table manners.) I’ve noticed he’s very quiet, since his injury. He no longer squawks upon arrival or departure, or during his meal. This is probably to avoid attracting unwanted competition.

Proof of Outdoorsiness

It's a row of mailboxes. Clearly, it isn't QUITE outside. But I did keep going, after taking this picture. I wasted most of my outdoor time trying to find and photograph a dragonfly (unsuccessfully), so this is what you get.

It’s a row of mailboxes. Clearly, it isn’t QUITE outside. But I did keep going, after taking this picture. I wasted most of my outdoor time trying to find and photograph a dragonfly (unsuccessfully), so this is what you get.

Crows, Starlings, and the Great Outdoors

  By packbawky | 15/06/2013 - 1:29 pm | ,
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Crow

The crow is looking even better, today: I saw him once in a tree, across the street, and once on my feeder. Both times, he was sitting oddly, avoiding putting pressure on his leg. But he appeared completely alert — and when he showed up at my feeder, he ate quite energetically. It looks like he’ll be fine, on his own, as long as he avoids the eagles and gulls. His fellow crows, it seems, are no longer out to get him. He had a couple of friends with him, in the tree.

Starling

For a long time, now, I’ve been hoping starlings would turn up at my feeder. Starlings are widely denounced as trash birds — noisy, greedy, destructive, AND an invasive species — but they’re terribly pretty, with their speckles and iridescence. I even like their long, thin beaks. Lately, a starling has been showing up on my balcony, peering in the window for a couple of seconds, then flying off. Yesterday, that starling stayed a little longer, sizing up the feeder. I thought he might eat, but a pigeon got in the way. Today, he finally took the plunge, twice. I didn’t get a picture, unfortunately. Even while eating, he seemed wary, pausing between bites to check up on me. I’m not sure what he thought was going to happen: it was six-thirty in the morning. I was in bed. I was hardly about to get up and grab a starling. I could’ve reached for my camera, which was on the bedside table, but I was pretty sure he’d fly away, if I tried.

Both visits were short. The second time, I thought he might be summoning up more starlings: he stood on the railing and made a horrible rasping noise, several times. But as soon as he got an answer, he flapped off.

Mother

Mother doesn’t believe I really go outside every day, so from now on, the Egg Suck Blog will have an additional feature, of no value or interest to ANYONE but my mother…that is to say, I’ll be posting daily pictures of things that are outside, to prove I was there. Today, we have a crappy iPod picture of a yellow flower. I tried to get a crappy iPod picture of a dragonfly checking out said flower, but it moved. The fly, that is, not the flower.

It's a yellow flower. I suppose, technically speaking, this COULD be inside, or on the balcony, but it isn't. It's in the wee planted-up bit, by the stairs, outside my front door. THAT COUNTS!

It’s a yellow flower. I suppose, technically speaking, this COULD be inside, or on the balcony, but it isn’t. It’s in the wee planted-up bit, by the stairs, outside my front door. THAT COUNTS!