The Fox and the Crows

During a late afternoon walk last week, the wind, which was relentless for two days, had ceased. The stillness of the air was welcome and fellow walkers commented about it. It was sunny and cool but a glorious winter day.

Wildlife around the boardwalk was active. Mice, squirrels, chickadees, mourning doves, blue jays and crows were busy feeding from the bounty left by islanders around the feeders along the trail. 

The animals continued to feed as their admiring fans stopped to watch or photograph them. People chatted as they watched.

On the way back down the trail, as we approached one of the feeders, two crows on the upper side of the trail were loud and boisterous, cawing as if to answer each other. They almost fell off the branches as they cawed so vehemently. As Newfoundlanders say,  "Something was on the go."

Then, as we talked to a woman with an Alaskan malamute which eyed the squirrels,

we saw a fox

stalking 

through the trees.

The crows, having seen it long before we did, cawed as they watched its every move. When the fox moved towards something on the ground, grabbed it and moved away to eat, the crows increased the clamour. They had lost their supper to the fox.

Walking across the bridge, heading home, we passed a man carrying a camera and tripod. We pointed out the position of the fox. There will be woodland photos of the fox circulating around Summerside, Prince Edward Island and beyond this week.