It sounds as if there are workers on our roof. Not Santa and eight huge reindeer in early April, I don't think. A burglar who is going to come down the chimney? Not likely, no chimney. I know who it is...they've been there before.
It's vultures! There is nothing graceful about their landing. They pitch in like stumbling, somewhat inebriated longshoremen. The incoming displace the already settled and the scrambling and jockeying for a good spot starts all over again. The highest peak is the most desirable real estate, of course.
Why have they chosen our house this evening? Do they know something I don't know? It does no good to yell or whistle at them. They know a fake feint when they see one. The stream from the water hose will not reach that high. My aim with a rock is not accurate. I'd probably just break a window. Dear Husband has a BB gun...you can imagine the rest of that story. Leave it to say, vultures have thick feathers and a tough hide.
So, why are they here tonight? Because tomorrow morning is garbage collection day. The cat food distributed by a well meaning but wrong headed neighbor is poor pickings compared to household kitchen leavings. White trash bags either let aromas seep out or allow visualization of the contents as they are most vulnerable. One, two, or three vultures can spread the contents of a garbage bag up and down the street a block or more.
Don't compare these birds on the dole with the noble buzzards of disney's Dumbo. Those guys work for a living, cleaning up carrion like diligent funeral home employees on commission. Our vultures line up for a free meal twice a week on garbage day and make do the other five days of the week on dry cat food left for the thriving feral cat population. Sadly there is nothing to be done. Vultures fall under the protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. "The statute makes it unlawful without a waiver to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill or sell birds listed therein ("migratory birds")"
I have a greater appreciation for the father in "Steel Magnolias," he was shooting into the trees to scare off the crows. Well, it could have been worse, it might have been vultures!
Look Alive.
It's vultures! There is nothing graceful about their landing. They pitch in like stumbling, somewhat inebriated longshoremen. The incoming displace the already settled and the scrambling and jockeying for a good spot starts all over again. The highest peak is the most desirable real estate, of course.
Why have they chosen our house this evening? Do they know something I don't know? It does no good to yell or whistle at them. They know a fake feint when they see one. The stream from the water hose will not reach that high. My aim with a rock is not accurate. I'd probably just break a window. Dear Husband has a BB gun...you can imagine the rest of that story. Leave it to say, vultures have thick feathers and a tough hide.
So, why are they here tonight? Because tomorrow morning is garbage collection day. The cat food distributed by a well meaning but wrong headed neighbor is poor pickings compared to household kitchen leavings. White trash bags either let aromas seep out or allow visualization of the contents as they are most vulnerable. One, two, or three vultures can spread the contents of a garbage bag up and down the street a block or more.
Don't compare these birds on the dole with the noble buzzards of disney's Dumbo. Those guys work for a living, cleaning up carrion like diligent funeral home employees on commission. Our vultures line up for a free meal twice a week on garbage day and make do the other five days of the week on dry cat food left for the thriving feral cat population. Sadly there is nothing to be done. Vultures fall under the protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. "The statute makes it unlawful without a waiver to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill or sell birds listed therein ("migratory birds")"
I have a greater appreciation for the father in "Steel Magnolias," he was shooting into the trees to scare off the crows. Well, it could have been worse, it might have been vultures!
Look Alive.
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