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Wednesday 1 June 2022

In the neighbourhood

Last weekend, our neighbour had fence posts removed, leaving huge holes along the property line for a few hours. Looking through the kitchen window, I noticed a neighbourhood crow looking into a hole, maneuvering around it, as if attempting to get in there. 




My husband and I guessed there was food below.


The crow gave up and when I looked in the hole, a fat little mouse was down there, stranded. 





We felt bad for it and despite our best efforts to rescue it via a shovel, then a stick plastered with peanut butter, hoping it would climb the stick, the mouse died. I had dropped in cheese for the poor creature, giving it a last meal at least. Poor thing. A quick death from the crow might have been better.


A slug somehow made its way into the hole as well 





and while we watched the area, another mouse went by the hole without falling in. An area Song Sparrow, probably one of those who greets me every morning at dawn, stopped by the stick for a look around. 





The mouse was not alone at the end.


We took the peanut butter stick out of the hole and left it on the patio and before we could wipe off the peanut butter, a crow discovered it and pecked it off the stick. 





The crow did a good job cleaning the stick!  


Starlings live in our neighbourhood and nesting is underway. One day last week, we noticed a neighbour putting a grate over one of the back vents on his house. The next day, two starlings were noisy and posturing on the roof of the house. 





We saw each land on the grate and call out as it did. The two continued the behaviour for hours, possibly because their nest was destroyed or made inaccessible by the grate.


The neighbourhood animals include numerous birds besides Crows, Starlings and Sparrows, such as Tree Swallows, Robins, Blue Jays, and Flickers. Foxes have stopped by as well as several predatory felines. Unlike the cats, neighbourhood dogs are confined to their yards, but we hear them greeting others often.


You know, there is a children’s story featuring the neighbourhood animals waiting to be told here. Even if that never happens though, the animals sure keep us entertained.




30 comments:

Rose said...

Yes, stories waiting to be told. I wish I had that gift. That is a great picture of the starling. I have never saw a capture quite like that. Isn't it funny...we don't want a mouse in our house, yet we feel sorry for them. I just hate to see anything suffer.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Poor little mouse.

Debbie said...

your neighborhood sounds just like ours. we have a lot of turtles, chipmunks and squirrels too. we have recently learned that we entertain deer as well!! when we first moved here 38 years ago, we had a terrible time with raccoons in our attic and in both of our fireplaces...the stories we could tell. i do agree, there is definitely a children's book to be written. poor little mouse, you have a big heart to try to save him. we find them floating in our pool all of the time!!

it is nice to see all of the dandelions, they are necessary this time of year!!

Pam said...

Animals are so amazing in the things they do. Even birds, they come back to the same place every yr. I have been trying to draw more birds to the yard with seed. I have had dove (never had before), mockingbirds, cardinals, eastern blue bird, wrens and finches....I used to get chick a dees and a tit mouse at the other house but have not seen them here. Thanks for sharing.

Tabor said...

That is an odd looking mouse. Ours are not so fluffy. I did not realize a crow would attack it, but I am night surprised. Crows are real opportunists.

Lorrie said...

There is a lot happening in your neighbourhood if you keep your eyes peeled. It would be very entertaining for children to watch and/or read a story!

MARY G said...

Yes, with your fine photos, it would make a charming children's book. We have a phoebe nesting by the basement door again. Just saw her on the clothesline. Phoebe babies are just ear-shattering. And me with newly tuned hearing aids.

The Padre said...

Well Spring Is Definitely In The Air - The Animals Are Alive And Happy - Way Cool

Be Well,
Cheers

photowannabe said...

Oh, I need to hear that story!!
Your way with word pictures is the perfect set up for a story...
Poor mouse and I love the way you tried to rescue it.
Fascinating critters.
Sue

Elephant's Child said...

Now that is a story I would happily read again and again.
Thank you.
I do feel for the mouse though.

Helen said...

I love the expression you have captured on the crow's face.
Such a sweet little mouse, no wonder you wanted to save it.

Red said...

I was surprised at all the feral cats in Hawaii.

William Kendall said...

Such is life in nature.

Goldendaze-Ginnie said...

Quite a different blog entry from your usual "walks" but lots of fun. That's quite an array of animals in your neighborhood and by the looks of the angry starling they don't hold back in letting you know they are there.

Joanne Noragon said...

You do have a canny bunch of animals.

Anvilcloud said...

You don’t even have to go on one of your nature jaunts to see and enjoy nature, even if you didn’t enjoy what happened to the poor wee mousie.

Jim and Barb's Adventures said...

So much to see right from your house!
We are headed east! We get to PEI on the 9th of June for 4 days. We'll be staying at the Cavendish Visitors Center one night and near the Victoria Walk Boardwalk the 3rd night.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

For the diligent observer nature tells a story that never ends, Marie - and you are a diligent observer.

Beside a babbling brook... said...

It's nice to hear what is going on around your own place. Please do more of it. -smile-

And you did try to save the poor little critter....

Gentle hugs...

Boud said...

The saga of the mousepad. I wonder why it fell in anyway. Maybe already sick. Poor guy.

sustainablemum said...

A lovely post albeit a sad one. I am sorry that you could not save the mouse it must have a been frightened by being down the hole and then having lots of large things looking down on it. I love to watch the birds from our window they are so busy at this time of year here as they all have young ones to look after.

Catarina said...

In general, animals are good entertainers.
:)

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
It is fun watching all the wildlife in your neighborhood. I feel sorry for the poor mouse. Pretty capture of the Song Sparrow. I can see a children story with your pictures illustrating. Take care, enjoy your weekend!

MFH said...

Beautiful shot of the light through the starling's wings.

margi said...

Poor mouse!

Maebeme said...

Oh, the poor little mouse. It likely died of fright and no wonder with a crow planning to make a meal of it. You tried, and though it didn't work, your compassion is wonderful.

I've read back a few posts and I guess if I want to see eagles, I need to come visit you. :)

Barbara said...

Isn't that funny how we feel sorry for that mouse. Yes, it does sound like a children's book in the making. Sorry but dead mouse is not a good ending to that story.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

It's all so fascinating and outside of your window. I love the dandelions - I don't see them very often as everyone here sprays to kill them.. they are so pretty ..

peppylady (Dora) said...

I think it strange we call grouping of crow, murder.
Coffee is on and stay safe

Retired Knitter said...

Sad for the Mouse. Yes, back yard animals can give much entertainment.