And They Come

   One thing about most wildlife is that they are always searching for food.  It is a matter of survival where nigh on every waking moment is spent feeding the belly.  For humans, it is a "cute" effort to lure a wild critter near enough to be fed.  Sometimes, that works well.  Sometimes, it is deadly.  Putting seeds in a birdfeeder is not a bad idea.  Feeding large predators can be a bad idea.  In fact...that is never a good idea.  Other times, feeding critters can make them become a nuisance as they become accustomed to handouts and have no idea when to stop coming and continue hunting.  

  Yesterday, Mark caught a bucketful of mullet.  He cleaned the fish to give to some elderly neighbors and close friends but then had an excess of leftover scraps.  Usually, these are put in the crab traps but with the overload of fish came an overload of scraps.  I started just tossing these scraps into the water as crabs, fish, birds and otters are always eager to grab lunch.  As I was doing this, two pelicans came to get their bellies full.  Soon, another came.  This was ok as there was plenty to go around.  The pelicans ate well and the scraps were all disposed.

  This morning, more fish were caught and cleaned.  The pelicans had obviously told their neighbors because now five came!  There were more pelicans but fewer fish. Still, there was no squabbling and each bird managed to get breakfast.  Pelicans are some of those birds that have no fear.  They literally will come within a few inches of you while begging for a handout. 

  With the number of pelicans increasing, I ponder what tomorrow's cleaning will be like.  Will there be more pelicans?  Mark sure better catch a lot of fish with that many mouths to feed!  Seems as if we started something!

Now, They've Done It!

  Well, I normally claim that animals are far smarter than humans.  Critters have a natural survival instinct that does not leave them time to meddle in other's affairs.  They do their thing and let others do theirs.  That is the way things should be but humans always have to be nosy....and bossy....and greedy.  Critters have got it down pat...at least, some do.

  Along about mid-morning, I thought it wise to bring Son a cooling drink as he had been working on the pier again.  It is hot work and I can no longer help him.  He was appreciative and as I was waiting to fetch his glass back up the hillside, I noticed something amiss.  Thousands of hickory nuts were strewn across the lower section of the yard.  Odd! Hickory nuts should not be falling for a few months yet and we had no storms to knock them from the trees.  This was a mystery that required investigating.  I assured Son that I would not venture too far and set off on my mystery-solving party.

  As near as I can tell, the nuts were knocked down by hungry critters whether raccoons or squirrels (or both)!  It appeared that some of the nuts had the green outer shell gnawed a bit before being discarded. Obviously, the green nuts were not as tasty as the critters had thought but they were determined to find a "good" one so they kept trying and discarding.  Now, they have done it!  With the nuts knocked to the ground, they will not be fully matured.  The meat inside will wither and dry.  The critters' winter supply is going to be short.   In fact, even the nuts on the ground will be gone by then.  Tomorrow, I shall gather them and store these fine things for winter.  They will not be used as food but as fuel for the old cast iron stove.  Once hot, the hickory nuts last a long time and put out good heat.  Sorry, critters...your loss is my gain!

A Near Hit!

  Mark and I were out on the pier before dawn again this morning.  After an incredible fishing day yesterday, we were hoping for a repeat performance.  Mark caught the most beautiful bait, we cast our lines and waited.  I caught two hardhead catfish and one garfftopsail but nothing else.  Ugh, our fishing plans seemed to have been thwarted!  So, instead of fishing, I started photographing the birds.  Gulls, terns and pelicans filled the Bay and Bayou.  They had come in for the relative safety that the area offered from the recent hurricane.  Since the Bay also offered a sanctuary for fish from the thrashing surf, the seabirds decided to stick around a bit to catch their fill.  The only problem was that our baits also seemed to be fair game for the birds.  (We actually hooked a gull and a pelican and had to gently work the hooks out of their bills.  Not fun for neither the birds nor us.)

  At one point, their were so many birds around the pier, I nigh on got smacked!  The gulls and terns became so engrossed in attacking our baits as we cast our lines that they ventured right above our heads.  The birds were swooping down grabbing our hooked baits then taking off in a mad flight.  As soon as one had a minnow, all of the other birds gave chase all the while squawking their fool heads off!  The pelicans had to leave the school of mullet they were chasing just to get in on the act.  Soon, these large birds were flying within a few feet of our heads then splash landing in the water after our minnows. 

  The swooping and swerving was not enough, though.  The pelicans thought that they could take a rest on the pier posts!  Not a bad idea except I was leaning against one post as I photographed the feeding frenzy!  I looked up just in time to see two large webbed feet, two huge wings and a gigantic bill coming right toward me!  I snapped a photograph and ducked!  The pelican landed on the post, pivoted and took off again.  I think the close call was unnerving to him, too!

  This feeding frenzy was exacerbated by Mark pouring our excess bait back into the water.  The birds thought that he was feeding them and it seemed as if every bird in the county found our pier!  Great for photographs but dangerous for my head!  There were several more near hits!