Cat Fancy-flashback

Warning:  this entry delves into the political at first.  If you just want to read the entertaining story skip to paragraph five. 


One day when I was out in nature a man approached and we had a conversation about various nature related topics.  He invited me to bird on his property, and mentioned that he has cats that he keeps outside, and every once in a while a Great Horned Owl will take some, but she has other babies.  "It's the way of nature,"  was his shrugging comment.   I had to wonder if he actually believed the words he was saying. 

It's always uncomfortable to hear this philosophy since, for one thing, it isn't true.   Cats are incredible hunters and, left outdoors, are devastating on their environment, which includes birds, mammals, reptiles and insects.  In other words, the ecosystem.   It is not the natural way and throws everything off balance.   It is a terrible situation for the cats as well, who fall victim to coyotes, hawks, owls, and automobiles.   I remember the anguish on a person's face just after they accidentally ran over a cat.   I knew it was one of our neighbor's cats which was allowed to "cruise," the neighborhood.   Even this fact can't remove the guilt you feel toward the victim.  

Being a bird enthusiast you may think I have a vendetta against cats.  You would be incorrect.  In fact, we have our share of cats and love them dearly for their unique personalities, their genuine affection, and incredible capacity for love.    We keep them indoors and all are spayed or neutered.   I highlighted that line since it is the most important part of this entry.   Cats are not the problem.  The actions of humans with regards to cats has created an imbalance which can be corrected with awareness, and, honestly, regulation.   This last action may seem costly until you think of how much it costs to run the humane society and other organizations.   Just think of how many cats are still put down after not being adopted.  It is a sad secret that many cats confiscated from "hoarders," are actually put down when not adopted.  Was there situation really improved?.   Other kittens given away are also at risk from others with harmful intent.  We all know there's a better answer, and California has had success in their endeavors.  Let's work toward a better solution for nature and cats!

I can preach all day but I'd rather tell a story of our cats, and how our bond started with our loving companions.


                                                                Paragraph Five


I was playing "fishing pole," with our cats the other night, and lay down on my stomach as they pounced on my back trying to get their prize.   I suddenly had a sort of deja vue which took me back to our first encounter a few years ago, also in the spring but months earlier.   It's funny how random events can sometimes shape the course of your life....

GBBC and other news

This past week we've added a couple birds to the 2012 yard list.   Today a Ladder-backed Woodpecker was calling from a neighbor's front yard, then came in full view.  Sorry, no pics.   When I was walking Kino last weekend I heard the familiar call of an American Robin, from a Eucalyptus about 30 yards from our house (and clearly would be seen and heard from the house). 

I had a great time counting birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count.  There were many highlights in the yard and neighborhood, and even on Kino's walks.   We tallied about 40 species on one walk alone!   And that's without Kino even trying....really.    We had Western Bluebirds, American Robins, and even a Red-naped Sapsucker.  A Green-tailed Towhee and White-crowned Sparrow cooperated nicely for photos in our back yard, and I managed a plausible shot of an Orange-crowned Warbler at "the TV loop."

The highlight came from a nearby mesquite bosque.  As I entered the mesquites almost immediately I picked out the form of a Long-eared Owl.  

Protective Coopers Hawk and Western Grebe 6/20/12

On the way home today I decided to stop by the cattail pond even though my bins were at home. Tiny reddish dragonflies zipped about the surface of the water like modern day fairies, and a Yellow Warbler fluttered in front of me like the tip of a cartoonists paintbrush ready to color it's beauty on the watery canvas.  The Eucalyptus was shedding it's papery bark, and many strips bore the neatly spaced rows of  Red-naped Sapsucker holes from the previous winter.  A collared lizard scrambled up the trunk of a cottonwood, it's smooth muddy green skin distinguishing it from the spiny lizards in the area.   This strange large lizard is an unusual sight compared to our other varied neighborhood lizard species.
As I walked back a Great Blue Heron's wide circular prints appeared like sand dollars against the thin top layer of loose dirt covering the hard caliche just below.   The heron watched from the opposite bank, it's wings drooped so low they seemed disconnected, in a vain attempted to cool down from the 105 degree ambient temperature.  I  rode home and took Kino to the big lake, hoping for another look at a Western Grebe which has been visiting since the first weekend in June.  This is only the 2nd occurrence of this bird in our neighborhood, the first being a one day wonder 12 years ago. 

Wow!  Unfortunately last Sunday was the last time I saw it, leaving my only some mediocre photograph and some video as a remembrance of this unique experience.

Dusk began to blanket the scene as we walked back toward home.   I felt, then saw the watchful eye of an overly protective Cooper's Hawk from the low branches of a nearby Eucalyptus.   This hawk has a nest close to the walking path, and has been buzzing passers by, especially males, it seems.   He even buzzed Kino a couple times, and I had to put myself cringingly in the path of wrath, hoping it would veer off before impact.   While we have not had a physical encounter yet, a few times I would turn around and see it just a few feet away from my head gliding at a quick clip, then turning for a second swipe.  It has really given me a great respect for the hunting prowess of this medium-sized accipiter.   It reminded me of a distant memory of a Northern Goshawk chasing me from its nesting area.   I broke my pack when I hit the dirt, but it continued to lead me out of the forest with persistence, diving down periodically in punishing manner.  After what seemed like 200 yards he let up.   Unfortunately the trail away took a turn back toward the nest, and the harassment came back at full and angry force, with vocal intimidation as well.  The memory of that charge is still quite vivid in my mind, and, though fearful, was one of the times I felt truly alive and awake.  Here is a quick Blair Witch type video of the Cooper's hawk attack.  If you blink you may miss it. 

As we walked slowly toward home darkness settled in, and a group of about twenty small bats were in a pocket ahead.   As we traveled through they fluttered about us like moths to a light, and I could even feel the heat from their bodies.  A large dragonfly was in their midst, and seemed to hover around us as well, perhaps even using us as screens against the bats sonar detection capabilities.