Moki and I just heard a terrible ruckus outside, so I opened the window to see if I could hear more. Birds were squawking all over the place, and I saw magpies flying in and out of the trees. I thought maybe their babies were crying for food. I went outside to see if one had fallen out of the nest and got a surprise. There, at the base of the tree, stood a hawk with some kind of bird in its talons. I don't think it was a magpie . . . possibly a mourning dove. The magpies were attacking it, trying to get it to go away. Then, I did something I probably shouldn't have done. I approached the hawk trying to get it to go away and leave the rest of the birds alone. I kept thinking . . . I hope the magpies know that I'm trying to help them.
A nature columnist that I used to read regularly said that you should never interfere in nature. The hawk has to eat, too. But, I kind of feel for the underdog. Well, sometimes. Anyway, upon my arrival, the hawk left his spot under the tree and flew about twenty feet away, with the bird still clutched in his talons. The magpies wouldn't let up. I approached again. This time, the hawk left his prey and flew into a nearby tree where the magpies kept at him. The magpies are still flying in and out of the tree where the hawk took refuge, and the dead bird still lay on the ground. I hope when the hawk leaves that he takes it with him . . . otherwise the killing was a waste. Sad.
More noise outside. The hawk flew back to the ground to get his prey. The magpies were relentless, but the hawk managed to get away and fly up on the roof of the house. With the scene so clearly in front of me, I started getting a whole new picture. It didn't look like the magpies were defending their own. It looked like they were ganging up on the poor hawk and trying to steal his food! I defended the wrong side! Why do I keep making this mistake? If I would just listen to the advice of not interfering with nature, everything would be just fine. I can't help myself.
Then, the hawk left the roof and flew into a tree across the street. Then, the magpies REALLY ganged up on him. There were about six magpies and just the one, poor hawk who wasn't much bigger than the magpies. NOW, I had to go across the street to defend the hawk! Just getting close to the tree made the magpies back off a little. But, as time went on, they started ignoring me and going at the hawk again. I yelled at the magpies and thought . . . I hope the hawk knows that I'm trying to help it. A few minutes can certainly change an attitude, huh . . .
Finally, I got too close again and the hawk flew off with its prey still clutched in its talons. I thought it got away, but then I heard it again. The crying that I had heard earlier and thought was baby birds, was actually the hawk crying. He flew to another tree and the magpies wouldn't let up. Then, the hawk flew off again, a short glide and then he took off . . . but, unfortunately the magpies continued to give chase. They flew off way across the field, so for me, that was the end of the story. Trying to do the right thing, I blew it again! Oh, well. Hopefully THIS TIME I've learned my lesson.
On the nature inside . . . about a week and a half ago, while I was brushing my teeth in the bathroom, a cute little brown face peered out at me underneath the washing machine. I had a mouse! In the house! I went out and bought a plastic "hav-a-heart" trap . . . the kind of mouse trap that doesn't kill them. Then, I didn't see or hear from him for almost a week, so I was going to return the trap thinking he had moved elsewhere . . . and perhaps the cats next door got him. But, no. One morning I noticed his calling card all over my kitchen! Bummer! I set the trap, and caught him that night. I heard him chewing during the night, and worried that he might chew through the cage and escape . . . but, he didn't. He was waiting for me next morning. I took him in the car and had planned to drive him about three miles away. But, the way that I went . . . I turned and was worried that as "the crow flies" or more appropriately, as "the mouse walks," it might not be three miles. So, I kept driving. Then, there were houses near all the possible places, so I kept driving. NINE miles later, I had still not found an appropriate spot, and I was done looking. I found a quiet intersection, and even though there was a house kind of across the street, I had come to the end of the line. I opened the cage and the little mouse jumped out and ran away.
I got home and thought . . . one mouse in a year and a half . . . I'm not going to go to the trouble to clean this plastic trap and just have it sit around for another year. So . . . I threw it away. Big mistake. A couple days later, I hear something at night again. Oh, no! Not again! I bought another plastic trap and set it out in the kitchen. No go. I changed bait. Nothing. But, I knew he was still around because I could hear him at night. While I was in the bathroom, something brown and fast scurried past. I moved the trap to the bathroom. I thought I heard him in the trap, and thought, success! But, I was still afraid that he could chew his way out, so I put the trap in the bathtub, and closed the glass doors. A little later (still not sleeping), I realized I heard no sounds, so I went back to check on the trap. Upon closer examination, there was NO MOUSE in it! Bummer! I was so hoping. I put it back where I had it, and less than an hour later, I DID have a mouse.
Next morning, I loaded him in the car, and took off. I have this thing . . . I like to keep family circles together. In Maine, we had many mice over the years, and we always turned them loose in the same place . . . to keep the family circles together. Thompson Island! Anyway, so this morning I realized that I had to drive nine miles to release him in the same spot as the other one. Road construction . . . right before my release spot! There were some big tractor things close to my spot. I pulled over anyway, and did the deed. He ran for his life. Hopefully, he'll find his family. I drove home . . . another life saved.
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