Creating A Monster

Over the holidays, the kids and I were reminiscing about the strange menagerie of pets they had growing up. From a turtle that was supposed to live forever to bunnies that died after Easter, the list was a bit unconventional. We also had parrots and cockatiels, an errant snake and plenty of fish (life expectancy of one week). Over the years, the animals came and went and none held on for very long.

Living on a golf course has provided Sharon and I with another kind of menagerie. Over the years, we’ve played host to a wide variety of desert creatures.

Road runners would occasionally amble through our yard. Herons and geese were more elusive, if for no other reason, than the whirly coyote always on the hunt for them. Mountain lions and bobcats were even scarcer and seldom seen in daylight but they were there. Coyotes were around day and night.

This Christmas, the kids were awakened around 3:00am by a pair of coyotes digging frantically under my shed looking for rabbits. Those predators left quite an impressive hole in the ground.

It’s not unusual to find animal tracks in our sand and sometimes scat there too. I’ve often thought it would be fun to have a night camera to catch the animal action that happens long after we’ve gone to bed.

Now the main attraction seems to be coming from our winged neighbors, hence the monster I speak of.

My first introduction to our winged neighbors began with a set of hummingbird feeders we placed strategically in our backyard. Soon, nests began to appear and the tiny families moved in.

A bird bath began to attract even more larger birds and the final step was a plastic container filled with bird food. I got into the habit of filling it each morning and hence the monster was born.

There seems to be a kind of caste system going on here. First, the small birds find that the tray is full again. They begin congregating and enjoying the mornings feast. All it takes is for one dove to appear and the scramble is on. More doves appear very quickly and soon the tray is swamped by all forms of winged hungry eaters. That’s when the caste system kicks in.

There are several large doves who usually appear after the feeding frenzy is on full-tilt. They’re mean, obnoxious bullies who push and shove and wing-flap the other birds away. The jockeying for someplace to eat never works when they’re around. It’s a free for all and the larger doves edge out the smaller birds for the best spot to gouge themselves. I’ve tried to capture this scene in a video clip or photo but I can’t get close enough without them scattering to the winds.

I have a little buddy who often sits with me to watch this social strategizing going on. He seems content to let the bigger birds fight their morning fight since he has their own feeder just a wing flit away.

Of course, an outsider might surmise that this is what happens when one has time on their hands, ravenous birds to entertain him and a background setting that can’t be beat.

I am one lucky guy….so say the birds and me.