The Birds

My backyard has turned into something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Richard can't keep the bird feeders filled. Hundreds of blackbirds swarm the feeders each day. One bird hangs and shakes it so seed gets spread all over the ground. The rest then eat their fill. Once that group is finished a new one flies in.

This pattern repeats itself over and over again, until Sam and Sally show up. The black birds scatter when the pair of large cranes make their appearance. But Sam and Sally are wearing out their welcome. They've lost any fear of humans. Or Ginger for that matter. Now they walk right up to the screen and stand in the planting beds. And stare. And stare. And stare. Ginger runs onto the patio and goes nose to beak with them with only the screen to protect her. She barks her fool head off and Sam and Sally could care less. They just stare at her. I think it's driving Ginger crazy too.

It's getting kind of creepy if you ask me. As soon as I throw some corn their way, they eat and then make their way to the lake for a bath. When it's time for the next meal, they climb up the bank and begin the stare down again.

When are they going to go back to Nebraska? After looking at the winter weather report, I don't think it'll be anytime soon. Stop feeding them you say? Tell that to Dr. Doolittle.