Gonna Build a Little Pond

[Amarok]

It rained all night long.

It's definitely different from 'normal', getting up and going out to drain the pond as opposed to topping it up. I've already drained probably 40+ gallons into the garden and the water is still well above typical levels.

The pond has a lot of excess capacity, so there should be no issues. There's just a little bit of anxiety seeing it pass previous heights, as new areas are tested.

I also started digging a mini 'rain garden' catchment area for the runoff from the roof. My property is high and well sloped, which is great for drainage, but I'm trying to slow it down so my plants can benefit.

There's another 2" of rain in the 7 day forecast with highs in the mid-teens C. Hopefully we can finally start finishing off these damned fires.

 

[Psychobilly]

I did NOT spend the last hour and a half out in the rain, playing.

I'm an adult. I was doing yard maintenance.

 

[Amarok]

So I was sitting on the deck a few minutes ago, watching a million birds coming and going around the pond and feeder, and feeling incredibly fine.
Then a rush of wings and one of my crow friends lands 2 feet from me on the feeding platform, the closest one's ever come.

These aren't my pets. These are wild animals who have allowed me the privilege of being a small part of their lives. I don't try to touch them, or get close, or impose myself in any way. I always respect their space and let them set the terms of engagement. For one to come that close, even for a short time, felt pretty damn cool.

I said hello and he hopped down on the ground while I got up for the food container. I laid some out on the platform and sat in the further, usual chair(~8 feet from the platform) and he flew up for breakfast.

Just a small thing, but it made a great morning even better. ☺️

 

[Psychobilly]

You know you could probably eventually hand feed one. They're incredibly smart. Eventually they would be capable of realizing you aren't a threat to them. I saw a group.....OK I have to say it this way....

I saw a Murder try to murder a hawk recently. We were out in the woods, and we hear the Crows going nuts. We know it isn't because we're out there, we see the crows all the time, and they aren't bothered by us. So we try to see what it is they see, and then, out of no where we see a raptor bird (I presume a hawk here) flying away, and an entire murder of crows following, dive bombing the thing. This went on for a few, and we could see them follow the other bird to the ridge line, and continue swooping.

 

[Hugh Jass]

So I was sitting on the deck a few minutes ago, watching a million birds coming and going around the pond and feeder, and feeling incredibly fine.
Then a rush of wings and one of my crow friends lands 2 feet from me on the feeding platform, the closest one's ever come.

These aren't my pets. These are wild animals who have allowed me the privilege of being a small part of their lives. I don't try to touch them, or get close, or impose myself in any way. I always respect their space and let them set the terms of engagement. For one to come that close, even for a short time, felt pretty damn cool.

I said hello and he hopped down on the ground while I got up for the food container. I laid some out on the platform and sat in the further, usual chair(~8 feet from the platform) and he flew up for breakfast.

Just a small thing, but it made a great morning even better. ☺️

I've read that if you can gain their trust, they'll bring you treasures from their travels.
Such fascinating critters. 👊

 

[Hugh Jass]

You know you could probably eventually hand feed one. They're incredibly smart. Eventually they would be capable of realizing you aren't a threat to them. I saw a group.....OK I have to say it this way....

I saw a Murder try to murder a hawk recently. We were out in the woods, and we hear the Crows going nuts. We know it isn't because we're out there, we see the crows all the time, and they aren't bothered by us. So we try to see what it is they see, and then, out of no where we see a raptor bird (I presume a hawk here) flying away, and an entire murder of crows following, dive bombing the thing. This went on for a few, and we could see them follow the other bird to the ridge line, and continue swooping.

I often see crows chasing redtails away from their nests, then; later, I'll
see the same crows being chased away by even smaller mockingbirds.

 

[Amarok]

I've read that if you can gain their trust, they'll bring you treasures from their travels.
Such fascinating critters. 👊

I've read of them bringing gifts, but if I've gotten any, I've been too dumb to notice.

One of the favorite anecdotes I saw was about a crow-friendly person who kept finding small branches, always the same diameter and length, on the table she would sit at when outside. It finally clicked that these branches were the same size(and approximate colour) as the cigarettes she would smoke. The crows were trying to bring her something she apparently valued.

 

[Psychobilly]

I've had "Murder presents" from Cats, but not Murder presents from a group of Crows. At least not yet anyway.

 

[Amarok]

You know you could probably eventually hand feed one.

These aren't my pets. These are wild animals who have allowed me the privilege of being a small part of their lives. I don't try to touch them, or get close, or impose myself in any way.

 

[Hugh Jass]

I've had "Murder presents" from Cats, but not Murder presents from a group of Crows. At least not yet anyway.

Check your windshield...

 

[Amarok]

I've had "Murder presents" from Cats, but not Murder presents from a group of Crows. At least not yet anyway.

I've read(seriously) they do that for things they think aren't capable of hunting for themselves.

Sounds like you need to up your beast game, Billy. 🐯

 

[Psychobilly]

Amarok, I can't quote that as apparently it's quoted quotes, but at the same time, I see the difference; I don't really go out of my way to bug nature, but at the same time.... If I had a pond with a Wolf Pack drinking from it, I feel like I'd be attempting to hand feed them and pet them. I have been able to walk right up to a Deer before. I didn't pet it, I was just surprised it didn't run off. I just looked at it, slightly stunned at how close it was, and eventually I walked away. The woods we hike in out back are full of different critters. And though I know you don't interfere with them, a buddy of mine hears Foxes being the target of a Coyote, and he will walk out there and make the Coyotes back off to protect the foxes.

As for Crows; The story about them going after a predatory bird, that was in the far back of where the yard and the trails are, so we have a lot of them around. Normally I leave them be and we put food out for them, but one bird DID shit on my Cheetos #1 plant.... I gave the Cat a kill mission. She seems to take it seriously.

Check your windshield...

I actually try not to harm animals driving. Unless a Turkey runs out in front of me heads first.....I do have a deep fryer after all LOL.

 

[Psychobilly]

I've read(seriously) they do that for things they think aren't capable of hunting for themselves.

Sounds like you need to up your beast game, Billy. 🐯

No for real it's hilarious! I've got a joke about it with the Wife and the kids; We go out in the woods a lot, and the Cat will come with us at times, and following along on the trails. She even sticks near when a Dog is out there. One day we came back, and, as is pretty common, the kids brought back sticks, and some rocks from one of the streams out there, and I'm like "This is why she leaves birds and bugs by the back door....She sees us coming back from the woods with rocks and sticks and thinks we're gonna starve" LOL.

She did nail a snake not long ago too; Left like a 2.5 foot snake out by the back garden partially eaten.

 

[Amarok]

I feel like I'd be attempting

That's where the basic difference in our outlook lies.

I observe and react, I don't initiate.

 

[Psychobilly]

That's where the basic difference in our outlook lies.

I observe and react, I don't initiate.

I used to be worse; I couldn't leave a single frog, turtle, or anything else alone.... Curious mind, stupid kid..... I'd grab Snapping Turtles from a swamp and keep them as pets. Or Frogs. Toads too. I was always pulling rocks and logs out to look at what was under them.

 

[Amarok]

I used to be worse; I couldn't leave a single frog, turtle, or anything else alone.... Curious mind, stupid kid..... I'd grab Snapping Turtles from a swamp and keep them as pets. Or Frogs. Toads too. I was always pulling rocks and logs out to look at what was under them.

 

[Jewels]

I always respect their space and let them set the terms of engagement.

A past biology teacher of mine once presented a lesson about how two variety of creatures could not occupy the same 'niche'.
If their diet, habits, and reproduction are identical ; eventually one species will occupy that space.

Interesting to see that the Robins in my yard have accepted my 2 year old son as part of the habitat, rather than a danger.
They will light near him, and only sidestep him when he randomly intrudes.

 

[Amarok]

That's hilarious. Wait until there is a fistfight over who gets to eat that juicy nightcrawler.
🤣

 

[Psychobilly]

I think I need some context there^

 

[Amarok]

I think I need some context there^

You may know this version:

Of Mice and Men - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

If you haven't, read the book, then see the Sinese/Malkovitch version of the movie. Incredible performances, incredible story..

The Lennie reference is just taking the piss. 😈