My son has a cat named, Trout (don’t ask). This cat was a semi-feral kitten when we got her and after seven years of attention and regular meals, she is still irritatingly skittish. One day, in the garden, she surprised me by doing loving, figure eights around my ankles. My joy at this unexpected show of affection quickly evaporated when I noticed the pair of mocking birds swooping nearby….the cat was using me as a human-shield.
There is a lovely Crape Myrtle outside our bedroom window, which is a favorite place for a pair of mockingbirds to build their nest every spring. It is also near the porch where we feed the cats. At six o’clock, every morning, Trout and our other cat, Millie, sit on the porch, waiting to be fed. They do not have too long of a wait during the week, but on weekends, well, they just have to wait. These patient cats drive the territorial mocking birds into a frenzy, thus, waking me up and since I am up, I feed the cats; I’m angry because I wanted to sleep in and the mocking birds are still squawking, but the cats are happy. Short of cutting down the tree, I see no end to this cycle.
I’m keeping the tree and will live with the mockingbirds. I’ll just hope they earn their keep by eating all the insects this mild winter did not kill.
We have a lot of mocking birds in the summer but I haven't seen any lately. But it's possible I just wasn't paying close enough attention. One of my dogs has an odd trilling bark that she sometimes uses to wake me up on the weekends so I can feed her. But I suppose if I could spend all day farting and snoring then getting up early would be no big deal, either. I'd keep the crepe myrtle, too. :o)
ReplyDeleteI generally love the mockingbirds, but they can be a big pain in the rear during mating times...from the two am ridiculously loud crazy singing, to the dive bombing of everyone within 25 feet of the nests, to the squeeky grate sound of the chicks... but they do keep the bluejays from making a nuisance of themselves.
ReplyDeleteI can see that it would be hard to feel the compliment of attention and affection when you are a human shield. Would it work to feed the cats elsewhere since you can't move the tree?
ReplyDeleteI had a mockingbird in a tree out in front of my home last summer. The bird went through a ritual of sounds late into the night and quickly became annoying!
ReplyDeleteYes, keep the tree. But maybe move the cat's dish? LOL
ReplyDeleteWe don't have any mocking birds here. The birds that I dislike the most are red-winged blackbirds out in the country. They dive bomb my head every time I go for a bicycle ride. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteWe have dogs that get us up as early as possible. I will let them out, but go back to bed. Sometimes we get critters up on the deck (raccoons, opossum, and squirrels get a big time barking frenzy)
ReplyDeleteMockingbirds are pretty amazing protecting their territory.