The Strange Bird Caper

I feed birds.  I know, its the same as feeding wildlife, raccoons, possums, what have you.   But I relented, grew weak three winters back, when the temperatures plummeted into single digits and the birds suffered.

Then, I realized how much my contained in the yard cats love watching the birds, through the cat yard peep holes, ledges and climbs.  So I continued feeding the birds, from a bird feeder I got for a few bucks and free thrown seed on the cement, where the cats can watch them come and go.

I had ducks show up, in from who knows where, just a couple of them, for a couple of weeks.

I've had Cooper's hawks show.  The hawks want to kill a fat pigeon or sparrow to eat for themselves.

Birds are terribly cruel to one another.  Scrub jays yank out and eat the sparrow babies.  The sparrow adults immediately begin courting again like nothing happened.

About four days ago, I hear strange sounds outside, early morning.  Loud screeching.  Like something is in terrible trouble.

I go out and jump out of my skin!--startled by the sight of this.....

What in the world?

Guinea Fowl

I had to look up online what the bird might be now in my yard or out roaming nearby yards, pecking at bugs.  Guinea Fowl are not native to Oregon or even to North America.  They are African birds but as has been the case with many other species, were brought here because of their exotic looks and to be raised and bred, as livestock or because someone likes their looks.  The birds are often raised as chickens or kept to warn of predators or eat bad bugs.  As always happens, some have escaped and must find food on their own to survive.

So why is he roaming a suburban cul de sac?  You got me.  Somebody nearby was possibly raising birds and turned him out, or he got out.  And now he's here.

For days he roamed the yards back and forth and I waited to see him flattened in the road, or drug around bloody and half dead in a free roaming big mean dog's mouth.

In the meantime, I've tried to catch Big Bird.  I named him Big Bird.

I've tried to catch Big Bird.  Without success...

Zeva the white cat, half the birds' size, chased after him, curious, so I chased Zeva away.

Today he's not around and I miss him already even though I hate his screeching me awake the last few mornings.