Rooftop Bat

   It always frets me when the "Neighborhood Watch Clan of the Critter World" sets up a clamor.  This means that something is amiss on the Bayou.  This neighborhood watch program consists of mainly blue jays in the beginning but then they are joined by just about every other bird in the county, so it seems.  The cacophony is almost deafening but usually that is a good thing because any predator hates to be noticed.  The ruckus, alone, can often be enough to deter a potential problem.  Usually...but not always.

  Early this morning, I heard the jays starting to call and soon a panic was set forth among all birds.  Since I was heading out to pick yet more figs, I decided to investigate just what was upsetting the birds.  Well, it seems that the whole center of attention was near the fig trees!  I pondered if a snake had crawled up under the trees.  That would be a bit iffy for me as the sun was just rising and a snake would be difficult to see among the shadows under the trees.  Standing still to get a better idea of just where the birds were focusing, it soon came apparent that the greenhouse roof was where the culprit was.  Hmmm?  I eased my way around to that side of the trees.  Yep!  There it was!

  Up on the rooftop, Bat, the Bayou Cat, was lounging about like everything was right with the world.  He was paying no attention to the thirty or so birds that were yelling at him.  In fact, I think the cat was sleeping!  I called to him..."Bat-Bat, what are you doing up there?"  He lazily rolled back his head and blinked as if to say "Woman!  Why are you disturbing my sleep?"  

  I suppose I should be appreciative of the cat being on the rooftop near the fig trees.  At least, the birds were in an uproar about his presence and were leaving the figs for me to pick!  Good cat!  In fact, I have noticed that lately under the fig trees, atop the greenhouse and in the vegetable garden are his choices of lounging areas.  I am all for it.  Bat makes a great watch-cat!

The White Flag

  Have you ever sat and pondered why the underside of a lot of critters' tails is white?  Just around the Bayou, I have noticed a good many animals have the trait.  Deer and rabbits are probably the most noticeable but this morning, it finally dawned on me that birds have the same white tuft beneath their tails.  Why??  Well, it is a warning flag.  Once an adult critter recognizes a danger, they flick that white tail like a flag.  This is an alert for their little ones to take cover, freeze in their tracks or flee the area as quickly as they can.  The white tail flick is a universal alarm in the critter world.

  Early this morning, I headed to the pier as usual. My encounter with the cottonmouth a few days earlier left me alert and ready if need be.  Once on the pier, I was able to relax a bit and take notice of what was around me other than watching the placement of my steps.  To my left, a mama rail was busily showing her brood the fine art of catching minnows.  She had brought the youngsters to the perfect place since the mudflats were teeming with stranded minnows.  Small rivulets were alive with minnows trying to escape the ever-shrinking puddle of water.  Low tide is not kind to procrastinators!  Mama Rail snatched up minnow after minnow.  She would immediately drop her catch and call for her little ones.  This was all before she noticed me.  Even though the bird is familiar with me, she flicked that white flag and made the call of alarm.  Her chicks raced under the cover of the pier and were not to be seen.  She continued to feed in the shallows but the little ones stayed put.  

  Mama Rail had just used me as a lesson for her young.  "If I give the warning, you are to take cover and not come back until I call you." she seemed to have told them.  Her lesson had been learned well and her chicks were safe all due to the flick of the white tail.