A Cat, a Hawk and a Little Bird

  Whether it is a sign of a hard winter that will take its toll on much of the wildlife or whether it has just been a prolific summer for birds, there has been a lot of nesting going on around the Bayou. Normally during late summer, the birds fatten themselves up for the coming winter. They are not having families that take a lot of care and are physically draining for the mother bird.  The little ones born in the spring are well on their way to adulthood and can fend for themselves.  They are not dependent on their parents.  Late nesting produces little ones that will not have fully developed into maturity by winter and therefore it will be doubtful they will survive the cold when food is short.  But, on the other hand, as a matter of survival of a species, there could be an innate urge to mass reproduce if there is an indication of a severe weather phenomenon. Survival of the fittest and all of that.

   I noticed a small Brown Thrasher out by the compost this afternoon and thoughts of its chances of survival this winter were quite grim.  The poor little thing seemed lost as it was.  I can only imagine its struggles during the cold.  While I was watching the little bird, things took a turn for the worse for it.  Its woes had already begun.  A Cooper's Hawk swooped down and tried to make supper of the juvenile Brown Thrasher.  There was a bit of a toss and tumble event going on when Ms. Put, the Bayou Queen wandered into the picture.  Now she would have normally made quick work of the little bird but just her presence saved its life.  Although unintentional, when she meandered around the canebrake, the hawk became startled.  That momentary lapse in attention was just what the little thrasher needed to make a hasty retreat into the compost pile.  Ms. Put had no intention whatsoever of attacking the hawk (hawks have been known to attack cats!) but the hawk had no way of knowing that.  It eyed the Bayou Queen with a wary countenance.  You could just see the concern in its face.  The standoff only lasted a few seconds but the cat won.  The hawk, still hungry, flew to the top of the pine tree and let out a cackling alarm.  Ms. Put continued her leisurely stroll past the compost without even paying heed to the bird.  Little Bird hid beneath the morning glories that covered the fence.  All was well.

   This was one of the few times that I have ever gone outside without my camera.  The chance of a lifetime photographing the true to life incident would have been exciting.  Once I did retrieve the camera, the hawk and Ms. Put were long gone.  Little bird came out for a single picture before he made a clean break for the middle of the canebrake!  Stay put, Little Bird, stay put!   You have a lot to learn before the bleak winter ahead.