Spooky

For the entirety of last summer, we enjoyed the company of "Guardian Frog" (photo pending, I have to search the archives).  He was a little tree frog who lived in a shoe on an upper shelf next to the light in the carport.  His presence was always delightful and cheering.  Frogs are wicked cute.

This summer's tiny pooka is more ambiguous.  I have been somewhat delighted yet vaguely appalled by the continuing presence of a banana slug that appears every single morning at our front door (which happens to be a sliding glass door).  I find it fascinating that this creature keeps to a routine that is as (or more) regular than our own.  (I guess slugs don't get weekends?) 

The other day, I showed this hanger-on to my friend Chigiy.  Who (of course), immediately suggested I incorporate it into the Roadside Attraction.  Well of course!  In case you don't know, Ariolimax columbianus,  a.k.a. The Pacific Banana Slug, is the second-largest species of terrestrial slug in the world.  (Woo-hoo!  Now I'm beginning to feel proud).  And, they are hermaphroditic.  (See, I told you there was ambiguity).

Dutifully, I went to get my camera.  In no hurry. Turned out the camera card was still in the computer, blah blah blah.  When I finally got it all together and wandered back to the front door a few minutes later, the banana slug was NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.  What?  It must be around here somewhere.  It's a slug, right?  It couldn't have gone far.... 

I could not, did not find it.

Spooky!  Are they shape-shifters?  Seriously, how fast can one slug move?

Today, of course, Banana Slug was back in position in its regular spot. But now it has the perfect name.  We're calling it SPOOKY.

The sexy hermaphroditic banana slug "Spooky" graces the threshold of Our Roadside Attraction.

A Stern Talking-To

Yesterday, Gerald came face to face with the little thief who snagged his hearing aid.

He had some choice words for her.

She appeared to listen carefully....

Baby Blues

Wellie's been looking scruffy lately.  I've been trying to document her dishevelment, but it's proven kind of hard to capture photographically.  She's always on a tight schedule these days, and doesn't tend to linger around the house like she used to.  But besides that, the pictures just haven't really shown the scruffiness I see In Real Life.  Anyway, I had a hunch she was beginning to molt, but couldn't prove it.  Until today.

Herein, I present: my baby molting. 

Molt:  Exhibit A -- The first appearance of blue on her head.  Oh, and look at those gorgeous bird feet.  I never get over the fabulousness of bird feet.

Molt:  Exhibit B -- Eventually her whole head will be blue.

And Now For Something Completely Different

The bird is just the tip of the iceberg here at the Roadside Attraction.  But while beetles have a pretty good Wow Factor, they don't do any cute tricks. Unless you think hissing is cute.

Tessa met this critter in the bathroom one fine evening.

Hardwood Stump Borer Beetle.  A bit hissy, but generally mellow otherwise.

Minutes later, she encountered this Junebug, also in the bathroom.

Gather 'round, children.

Mwah.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Fruitless Searching

Here we are searching for the hearing aid.

Chigiy came to help us that first morning, tiptoeing carefully around under the tree with me, while Wellie helped James up in the tree.

Good thing all these oak leaves are just about the same color as a hearing aid.

The Proverbial Haystack.  Extra Credit:  Find the bird in the photo.  Double Extra Credit plus reward:  Find the missing hearing aid.

Don't climb alone, people.

Unbridled Enthusiasm

Tessa and I were cleaning tack.  Then Quality Control arrived.

What do you mean  I missed a spot?

The Princess is Not Afraid of A Little Hard Work

The other day certain members of Our Roadside Attraction had a profound yearning for S'mores.

Biggsy set everyone to work creating a fire circle.

Wellie helped.

"Ask, and ye shall be Put To Work."

Find the Avian Assistant, Part I

Find the Avian Assistant, Part II

Shovel Check

Break Supervisor

Is this my chair?

This IS my chair.

Developing Young Minds

Like any normal fledgling, Wellie began to make test flights, which landed her on the floor, at first. There, she'd hop hop hop busily around, examining everything she could get her beak on.  She soon was able to hop/fly up onto a chair or sofa.  Gradually her test flights became more coordinated and better directed, and she would choose where she wanted to land.

We are delighted (to varying degrees) when she comes to see what each of us is up to.  Thus, our Scrub Jay Enrichment Program is underway.

Read to your young bird daily.

Teach basic lettering, erasing, and nibbling.

Crayons are a good way to teach colors.  Trick question: which one is orange, Wellie?

 

Oh my goodness, she's right.

Baby Pictures

There isn't any news about the stolen hearing aid.  And since this blog is thus far entirely devoid of imagery,  I thought I would take some time to post a few pictures from early July when Wellie was just a fledgling.

Baby bird reflex:  Feed me!

Down the hatch.  Mmm, starter crumble.

We fed her often.

So there are many photos of her eating.

Full and sleepy, snuggling down for a nap.

Crazy Hobo Genius

Another day, another search. Does anyone know if corvids rearrange their loot regularly, or do they mostly stash-and-go?

I am not at all good with heights. Finn, however, is brilliant. And brave and strong and nimble. So up he went up into the oak tree investigating caches today, while I spent some time below with the metal detector.

The higher he went, the more interesting the caches became. All up and down the branches, in every nook and every junction, there is a wee cache. Laughing with delight and amazement, Finn began describing to me the organization of these clusters. He noticed groups of paper, nuts, shiny candy wrappers, white things, small bits of plastic, cereal, twigs, and metal, which is distinct from yet another cache containing That Which Is Shiny.

Fascinating, but still no hearing aid. "It's like a crazy genius hobo lives up here," said Finn.

Amen, son. Amen.

Tree Assault

Thursday

Even before breakfast, we climbed as high as we could into the oak tree in search of the stolen hearing aid (wherein "we," refers exclusively to my brave husband). I worried with each passing moment of daylight that Wellie would capriciously decide to relocate the hearing aid while we weren't looking. Of course, this assumes a lot, specifically, that the hearing aid is actually IN that tree.

I think it might be. Wellington was immediately on scene. I couldn't quite tell if our presence in the tree was cause for delight or offense. She was all over James, perching on his pocket and trying to steal pens.

Down below, we combed carefully through the dirt, leaves, and other meadow detritus beneath the tree. We bought a metal detector, and pressed it into service. We found a binder clip.

I tossed ropes over boughs and tugged desperately, squinting into the rain of leaves and twigs for what might possibly be a falling hearing aid.

I aimed the blower up into the branches and hoped for a miracle.

No dice.

"What? What's that you said?"

Wellington the Scrub Jay was so adorable tonight. She came to see us all at the barn as the girls finished their riding lesson. She was busily hopping around and commenting on the general assembly.

I picked her up and took her over to introduce her properly to Gerald, our 70-something year-old riding instructor. As I know he is a bird owner himself, and generally good with animals, I thought he'd enjoy meeting her.

He smiled and laughed as she hopped onto his shoulder and began her endearing scrub jay antics, investigating his shirt collar and tweed cap. I was delighted she was being so friendly. She tends to be flighty outdoors. (Imagine that).

At any rate, I was unprepared for what happened next. Wellie discovered Gerald's hearing aid and yanked it right out of his ear, holding it triumphantly aloft for all to see. It was a moment I will not soon forget (though I will try).

I remember deciding not to actually dive-tackle her. I also remember thinking that I didn't want her to know how badly we wanted that particular treasure. With a small crowd looking on....what to do?

"Feign. Utter. Indifference." I told myself. Nevertheless, I could hear the edge in my voice as I called, um, sweetly to her. She didn't buy it for a nanosecond. In retrospect, I believe I should have gone for an immediate dive-tackle. Live and learn, live and learn.

We watched her fly up onto the little barn that houses the pony cart. The kids easily climb up there, so I dispatched Tessa in pursuit.

Continuing the game, Wellie took off across the round pen and flew into an oak tree in our meadow. Luckily, an eyewitness reported seeing her alight in the tree WITH the hearing aid still in her beak. When next sighted, her beak was empty. Now she was simply having a grand time watching us watch her.

With the light rapidly fading, I sent Finn shimmying up the tree as James and I peered around beneath with flashlights. No luck.

Hearing aids cost $1300 a pair. I hope that morning light will be more revealing.

Does anyone have a metal detector we can borrow?

Notifying the Neighbors

Chigiy realized before I did that I had better let people in the neighborhood know about Wellington, lest there be any mishaps. She had told the one neighbor who is nervous about birds about our little scrub jay. Guess where Wellie showed up the very next day? Chigiy is brilliant.

So here's what I sent.

**********************

Hi Everyone,

While this is quite possibly the most random e-mail you'll get all summer, I hope this info can prevent any inter-species misunderstandings, and maybe even bring some enjoyment to you and yours.

Here's the story. On July 4th I found a fluffy little scrub jay baby down in our window well. Normally, I would leave a fledgling for the parents to care for, but the cats were circling like sharks. I had to intervene. I brought her in to safety, and we subsequently raised her on chick starter crumble, table food, and true love.

We all became very attached to one another, but I couldn't justify keeping a perfectly healthy jay captive. So when she mastered flight, we opened up her cage, and opened up the house. It took her about a week to muster the courage to head out into the big wide world. Now, she comes and goes from our house at will. To our delight, she arrives daily to boss us around, share meals, and "help" with various projects. As far as I can tell, she also has jay friends (or relatives).

Anyway, we were out all day today, and I heard from Chigiy that Wellie (named after the infamous window well) is beginning to venture forth ever farther, meeting her neighbors! She is very friendly and social, but if you didn't know there's a tame jay in the area, her behavior might seem odd, to say the least.

When she wants to meet you, (and she pretty much always does) she will sometimes swoop in low over your head, land just a few feet away from you, and check you out. Alternately, she will appear seemingly out of nowhere and land right on your head or shoulder. I really hope this doesn't happen to anyone who is uncomfortable with birds!!! If you don't want her around, just shoo her away. I have no doubt she can find someone else to pester who doesn't mind.

I guess the thing to understand about her is that while she is tame, she is a wild bird. She really enjoys human company, but she has a strong beak and doesn't really understand that this can make things hard for us. While she does not bite (like a parrot might, for example), she does use her beak in a typically corvid fashion, poking, pecking, and tugging at interesting things. If you permit her, she will avidly investigate jewelery, buttons, anything shiny or colorful or dangly.

If you are comfortable with her landing on your shoulder, resist the urge to turn and look directly at her. She has given each of us a memorable peck in the eye. While no one has been injured, it's not something I'd want to repeat. Again, her pecks at the eye are not viciousness or aggression, but rather curiosity and exploration, and ONLY have occurred when I have turned my eyes directly toward her while she is sitting on my shoulder. I assure you she will not attack you, but I do understand how very, very surprising/alarming it would be to have a scrub jay come whooshing down and land directly on your person totally out of the blue.

If you want to encourage her company, you can talk to her, whistle, or pat your shoulder. She'll take food from your hand, hop to your shoulder, and sometimes enjoy it while perched there, wiping her beak on your shirt when she's finished. Or she might choose to hide a really good treat in your hair. She will step up onto your finger. If you make a jay-like sound, she'll make one back. I am continuing her training in beer-opening, but we have a ways to go yet. Marcus, you are welcome to begin uncorking lessons with her any time. ;)

Anyway, I think you get the idea. Just wanted to let you all know what she's like, and why she is like that.

Please let me know if you have any questions, and please forward this to anyone not listed above who you think should know about our beloved Wellie.

Thanks!

Where to Begin?

I have a neighbor, well, I'll call her a friend - Chigiy. We walk our dogs together in the open space near my house, and we laugh a lot.

Now, my family has collected quite an assortment of creatures here on Maniac Mountain. By way of explanation, I might say that a) my family really likes animals, and/or b) I am a total sucker.

A while back, Chigiy started sending me Craigslistings for every imaginable cast-off creature, from chickens and bunnies to pythons and goats. The running joke is, "Another addition for the Roadside Attraction!" I am not yet entirely convinced that the opening of such an establishment is the path to financial splendor. But since I seem to be running the place anyway....

So that you don't immediately think that we are some kind of awful hoarders, I will now list the current Non-Human Residents here at the Roadside Attraction:

• One female boxer, a.k.a. My Third Child.
• Two kitteh brothers (two-for-one holiday special -- thanks Shelter Ladies.)
• Three laying hens.
• A Russian Tortoise.
• An albino rat, who is currently enjoying a spa vacation with one of her admirers.
• A Welsh Cobb/Arab whom my daughter rides and loves. Technically, he resides in the corral across the street, but I'm still going to include him in the Attraction.
  

Most recently, we found a fluffy gray fledgling scrub jay stuck down in the window well. The cats were circling her like great white sharks while she bravely told them off. Anyway, the last few weeks of raising her have been full of wonder, surprise, and delight. Every time I tell Chigiy the latest about Wellington (Wellie for short), Chigiy rolls her eyes and rants, "Why don't you have a blog?!"

So here it is.