Monthly Archive for December, 2009

Here’s another post from our birding experts, Penny Rose and Scott Hoskin:

The dreaded phone call finally came on a Friday afternoon.  While relaxing on his day off Scott was horrified to see Lady Raz catch and kill a Dark-eyed Junco in our backyard before he could intervene.  This little tabby had shown up in our backyard sanctuary about two years ago.  A petite version of our big boy inside tabby – Razzie, the name Lady Raz was instant.  Checking with all the neighbors for her home we discovered everyone knew this sweet little girl but she was apparently owned by no-one.  I searched for someone who would adopt her and give her a good in door home.  Success!  A trainer with the Parks Department took her into his heart and home.  But on the first visit to the vet it was discovered that she had a microchip.  He did the right thing and returned her to the original owner.  Problem solved.  Lady Raz disappeared for several months.

Spring rolled around and there she was again lolling about in our backyard.  Drinking from the bird bath and sleeping in our fisherman’s cottage, she was apparently being fed by any and all soft-hearted neighbors.  The difference this season was Lady Raz never went home again.  Day after day she was still there.

During the spring and summer months her presence didn’t cause a problem.  Being in a dense urban neighborhood, our tiny backyard has no ground-feeding birds during the spring and summer.   But time was not on our side.  Fall brings Dark-eyed Juncos, Song Sparrows and occasional migrants such as Hermit Thrush and Fox Sparrow who find sanctuary in this tiny green space.  Having a well-fed “feral” cat in the garden was a recipe for disaster for our birds.

After the disturbing phone call action was necessary.  When I arrived home from work I picked up this little lovely fur-wrapped package and took her inside.  Tucking her safely away in the upstairs bathroom away from Razzie and our tortoiseshell Lily, Scott and I explored our options.  None of them seemed satisfactory.  She obviously no longer had an owner, the shelter was a sure death sentence, and other rescue places just prolonged the problem.  Scott and I checked on Lady after our discussion.  She squeezed her four little white ballerina feet together and squinched her eyes deeply at us.  “We have enough room for three cats in our house” Scott said.  Decision done!

Three weeks later the chaos between the tabbies has settled to a mild roar.  Lily monitors their growling progress from a distance.  Lady’s vet visit transferred the microchip to my name.

But most importantly, the backyard is a sanctuary once again.  Northern Flickers feast on ants between the paving stones of the path.  Thirty-plus Oregon Juncos  and two Slate-colored Juncos pick seeds from the garden, double scratching through the fallen leaves in search of the most delicious hidden treasures.
Anna’s Hummingbirds sip nectar from the hardy fuchsia blossoms just inches from the ground.  The Song Sparrows chase each other around under the ocean spray competing for insects and seeds.  Bushtits glean insects and eggs sacs from the currant and mock orange shrubs.  Their tiny bodies dangling with impunity just a foot above the ground.

Lady, Raz and Lily relax safely inside, away from dangers of cars, fleas, raccoons and wet, windy Seattle weather, rousing on occasion for a vicarious “hunt”  of the House Finches and Goldfinches visiting the window feeder.