Remnants

What you're looking at is the bloodied remnants of a dove. Moments before I took this photo I had walked upon an incredible occurrence- one that happens rarely to anyone. I had just returned home from the grocery store and was walking to check the mailbox when I noticed, right before me in my own front yard, a Cooper's hawk resting aggressively upon a lifeless white-winged dove. Naturally I immediately froze where I stood not believing my good fortune. The hawk, not wanting to forsake its lunch, just stood and glared at me, acknowledged my presence, and then went right back to plucking feathers from the stagnant bird. I’ve observed these hawks crash numerous times into the local oaks where vast flocks of these meaty “pigeons” roost. Squirrels are also on the menu as I remember once watching as a Cooper’s swooped down from nowhere and snatched one from the limb of a sweet gum right before my eyes. Most people are oblivious to such happenings, which to me, is a shame. All you have to do is pay attention. Believe it or not I was able to slowly back away while it continued feeding to slip into the house and retrieve my camera. I walked out of the front door to see it still busy, when everything went downhill. For some odd reason our postman decided to deliver our mail earlier than usual which brought about the barking and howls of every neighborhood canine in earshot. That provided the necessary incentive for the feathered predator to grab his meal and finish it elsewhere undisturbed. I stood with mouth agape as it lifted the dove in its talons and disappeared in the distance leaving behind this tuft of feathers as the only evidence- without me getting a single photo to make this entry complete.

Witnessing the raw nature of an “animal kill” such as this, may seem gruesome to some, but in my mind it portrays the predator’s skill at finding, observing, and studying its prey, and knowing the precise moment to make its move for the capture, takedown, and kill, all of which is necessary in order for it to survive for one more day. To the naturalist, experiences such as this are indeed rare and indeed cherished. Even without a photo…….

Who Done It???

While walking out to check the mail I noticed a red spot on the sidewalk. I walked over to find it was a drop of blood, and not the only drop. Looking ahead I could see a trail leading underneath our house. I followed each drop in the opposite direction until I came upon the source.

There in the grass near a ditch was a pile of feathers that had been carefully plucked from a white-winged dove. Apparently one of the feral cats that roam this neighborhood pounced upon the unwary bird and it became dinner. I walked back towards the house and noticed an outside cat of ours lying on a wicker couch that resides on our front porch. We “acquired” this big tom when we returned from our evacuation stint during hurricane Ike’s rampage on the Gulf Coast. We had no idea where he came from and decided to give him something to eat. After all he survived a hurricane. And everyone knows what happens when you feed a stray cat……..it never leaves. We couldn’t help it though because he was extremely tame and very friendly, so we decided to take him in. And his name...you guessed it...Ike.

Anyway, he looked awfully pleased as he lay stretched out on the couch making me wonder if he were responsible for the pile of feathers that lay ten yards away. I checked him over looking for blood, but as most people know cats are extremely adept at keeping themselves clean, so if he was the assassin he had already gotten rid of the evidence. The only indication he presented was one of contentment.