Conversations with Critters
Walk with the animals. Talk with the animals. And a window on a small urban habitat…
Today, Critters, we have a noteworthy Field Note to report which centers on surreptitious activity happening right outside the Condo’s Front Door, specifically in a planter on the porch. We see no direct critter activity beyond the fluttering of wings in our most peripheral vision. This flurry, by far more feather-related than furry, is only trace evidence indicative of behavior previously unknown and unheard of in the annals of Conversations with Critters. Our view of the porch as well as our outlook on reality may never be the same again as we realize and explore the fact that the urban-wildlife interface is so close that it is personal. Please, join us now in excellent exploratory critter conversation.
Heidi: Hello, Friends, and welcome! We are thrilled to have you here with us for a special close-up of the urban-wildlife interface.
Chris: You know what, Critters? We have a Special Report. Please, stay tuned for an Incredible Journey. Please, make yourselves comfortable right here on the Couch with me. Today, Jasper Kitten is going to tell us everything and I’m going to sleep through it. Ready. Set. Go. The end.
Panda: Friends, without further introduction, Jasper Kitten is ready to take it away!
Jasper: Hello, Critters! You know what? The urban-wildlife interface is in my face. It is that close!
Chris: Jasper Kitten, before I completely fall asleep, please report to our readers from the front window.
Jasper: Thank you, Chris, thank you very much. I’m pleased to report my findings which are incredible. From my observations at the Front Window, looking out onto the Porch, I bear witness to Scrub Jay activity, indicative of seed planting behavior. These Critters are real nut jobs. End report.
Panda: Let’s share a photo of the plantless planter on the porch for the edification and enjoyment of our readers which Jasper has observed to be a locus of Scrub Jay food storing behavior.
Jasper: Critters, now that you can plainly see the planter, it is even more incredible that this seemingly nondescript and even discarded garden artifact could ever possibly be utilized as a food storage resource by a critter.
Panda: Well said, Jasper. Highly observant of you.
Jasper: Thank you. Thank you very much. Furthermore, even though we live in Oregon, the California Scrub Jay, Amphelocoma californica, has a large range throughout Western North America. I realize that is a lot directions which may require both a map and a compass, but it is the truth. Please, allow me to further illustrate my point.
Panda: Incredible.
Chris: Impressive territorial knowledge, Jasper. Excellent geographic graphics.
Jasper: Chris, I thought you were sleeping on the Couch.
Chris: I woke up. The end.
Jasper: Critters. Furthermore. Scrub Jays are part of the Corvins. We have previously featured Crows. Other Corvin Critters are Jackdaws, Treepies, Choughs, Nutcrackers. Did I say, Magpies?
Chris: Nope.
Jasper: Magpies. My friends and dear gentle readers, the Jay I have witnessed on our Porch is a member of these highly Critter Cognitive Corvins who have excellent complex memories and like to stash their stuff in scattered caches which they always remember and never forget.
Chris: Similar to where you stash your toy mousies?
Jasper: Correct. Critters, please observe this as follows. Thank you, thank you very much.
Chris: Now, I really must go back to sleep. Farewell for now my Furever Friends. The end.
Jasper: Critters, thank you for your intrepid explorations with us today. The urban-wildlife interface is only a step away. We are right there with you.
Panda: Thank you very much furever. We luvluvluv you every step of the way. The End.
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Poetry with Pets
How to stash your stuff
Observations of nut jobs
A plantless planter
By Jasper Kitten, Chris & Panda
I love this and I can just imagine your cats in deep, serious conversation about birds!😂❤️
Your story is very sweet and oh so interesting. A rare combination and very well done.