What do (crazy) authors do after hours? Take Two
Restore a hawk chick to the nest, blown out of a neighbor's tree in high wind; beer not recommended!!! Yup, I'm a living, breathing sap for a baby critter in trouble...
Pix and full story, click on the link:
http://www.paravia.com/JannyWurts/pics
Pix and full story, click on the link:
http://www.paravia.com/JannyWurts/pics
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The Pirate Ghost
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May 02, 2012 03:14PM
Wow...Your an Action Hero...If you were also a vampire, you'd be in a book!
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Curmudgeon wrote: "Wow...Your an Action Hero...If you were also a vampire, you'd be in a book!"Vampire? Book? ;) I guess the broad daylight wrecks that notion.
Update: there are still two chicks in the nest, being fed by their parents, today. So it was the high winds (we had gale force gusts that day) and not a case of sibling rivalry execution.
Janny wrote: "Curmudgeon wrote: "Wow...Your an Action Hero...If you were also a vampire, you'd be in a book!"Vampire? Book? ;) I guess the broad daylight wrecks that notion.
Update: there are still two chicks..."
Hey, you'd fit into Monster Hunter International pretty well though! (yes, review on that somewhere) ....
... no, that wasn't a plug.
I just think that's cool. So many people hang around thinking "Someone should do something" and "who do we call" (yes, the Ghost Busters theme just popped into my head righ then), when all that is really needed is someone who will "just do it!"
...no, not a Nike plug either, just a good jingle.
So, since I think of Heroes as people who see, think then do, you fit into that catagory.
Even if your not a Vampire or a mighty vampire slayer!
And that looks like it's a long way up there! (The Curmudgeon don't do hieghts but I will go underground or under water.)
It's great that they are all okay. I was afraid they'd not like the "human intervention" some birds are finicky that way. Good Hawk-ish parenting.
Curmudgeon wrote: "Janny wrote: "Curmudgeon wrote: "Wow...Your an Action Hero...If you were also a vampire, you'd be in a book!"Vampire? Book? ;) I guess the broad daylight wrecks that notion.
Update: there are st..."
::Blush::
Well, yeah, just doing what needs done is IT. And if you can't, then asking for someone who can - just as good. We had plenty of folks who were fit and able to handle heights - but Eucalyptus trees are frail trees, the limbs weren't that stout, and I had once rented a carriage house apartment from an avid Falconer (also author, Daniel P. Mannix, who wrote GREAT books, BTW)...I'd handled plenty of raptors, helping him bell them, and change out the old jesses, and also, had done my share (came with the rent) of getting birds who'd tangled their jesses OUT of the crowns of trees. This, admittedly, was a first time putting a hawk back INTO a tree. Upshot: I was light, fit, and had handled raptors before.
Having worked/helped out a lot with wildlife rehab - it's a myth, that animals won't accept their young back if humans touch them. Totally. They will ALWAYS take their babies back, no exceptions I've seen. The pros at it will tell you the same.
The danger with birds is they are frail - will die of fright/overheat or stroke out from the stress. So you have to be very careful while handling them not to terrify them.
The parents left the tree while the baby was restored and kept their safe distance for awhile, but then resumed duty as soon as they felt secure. Also, I made sure to stay down, out of sight so the other baby didn't see me and panic when its sibling was returned. the method: get the little guy to cling to the rim of the nest, then shove him in the butt so he climbed up and over the rim of the nest on his own.
I've been in caves, and underwater - done that - it gives me the creeps! Just as nervous in closed spaces as going up ladders. Hats off to you, if that is your comfort zone!
Janny wrote: "I've been in caves, and underwater - done that - it gives me the creeps! Just as nervous in closed spaces as going up ladders. Hats off to you, if that is your comfort zone! "Yea, I had a discussion one time with a guy who liked parachuting that went something like this.
"Okay, I'll step off a submarine and you step off an Airplane. I think the odds of going the right direction are in my favor."
You've heard/read the great snake story from me, right? That's about repatriation of a wild reptile back in the wild...sort of. And see, think do...
Curmudgeon wrote: "Janny wrote: "I've been in caves, and underwater - done that - it gives me the creeps! Just as nervous in closed spaces as going up ladders. Hats off to you, if that is your comfort zone! "Yea, I..."
No, I haven't....heard your story about the snake. Do tell!
Here it is, I've posted and talked about it so much, I can't remember who I've talked to about it. but here's the story.. (if you don't mind a link to my blog/writing on your blog).
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/2...
See what I mean... See...Think... Do... Only, for some reason it doesn't seem to look as Heroic as climbing a tree with and repatriating a great bird.
Curmudgeon wrote: "Here it is, I've posted and talked about it so much, I can't remember who I've talked to about it. but here's the story.. (if you don't mind a link to my blog/writing on your blog).
http://ww..."
Oh, I think I've broke something, laughing!
your cat - wow - ours are ALL OVER a snake if it gets in the house. They'll pin it under the furniture, if it's a big one, and mess with it like toy string, if it's small. We get to catch it and put it out. (We live in Florida; snakes are a part of daily life).
Later on, I'll post you a story back about my landlord (Mannix) and HIS snakes...they were 20-25 feet long, and big around as my thigh...
Janny wrote: "Later on, I'll post you a story back about my landlord (Mannix) and HIS snakes...they were 20-25 feet long, and big around as my thigh..."That would be great but...no pictures please!
As for my cat... i'm cool with her because I know where I stand. I'm just another human standing between her and the domination of the world.
The sad part is, that as funny as that is, and we still laugh about it... once enough time had passed for us to think of it as funny... but, that's about, exactly the way it happened. It's a true story.
Okay, love the snake story. I've got a similar cat and mouse story, but I won't put it here. Janny, big applause for your reparation of the raptor. We have an African Grey parrot, so I know how fragile birds can be, but their beaks are anything but!
Becky wrote: "Okay, love the snake story. I've got a similar cat and mouse story, but I won't put it here. Janny, big applause for your reparation of the raptor. We have an African Grey parrot, so I know how ..."Becky, put the cat and mouse story here, why ever not?
Curmudgeon wrote: "Janny wrote: "Later on, I'll post you a story back about my landlord (Mannix) and HIS snakes...they were 20-25 feet long, and big around as my thigh..."That would be great but...no pictures pleas..."
OK, snake story as promised.
I rented the field hands' quarters over Daniel Mannix's carriage house for 13 years. As anyone knows who's read his books, he kept all sorts of wild animals.
Anything that walked, crawled, flew or slithered.
This included rattle snakes (in an acquarium in the living room) and 4 HUGE boa constrictors. I mean huge. Dan was over six feet tall - well over - and when he carried the largest ones over his shoulder, they draped one loop in front of him, nearly to the floor, with the head in his hand, and the tails, draped over his back, draggled down onto the floor, with several feet dragging after him. The biggest were 20- 25 feet long, and big around as my thigh.
They required to go into the bath to wash off, while he cleaned the cage. His home was very old - a Pennsylvania stone colonial, and the bathroom had a clawfoot tub, radiator heating, and an old water closet. If the snakes were left to themselves, they would leave the tub, wrap around the legs and twine into the radiator, and NOBODY could pry them loose. They were way too strong.
Picture this: Dan dumps 4 snakes in the tub, hands me (all of 5'6" and under 120) - you get this??? - a toilet plunger. Object of the game: when the snakes poke their heads (bigger than my FOOT) over the rim of the tub, the brilliant IDEA is to give their snouts a shove with the toilet plunger and plop them back inside.
Heh.
Four snakes VS ONE plunger. And Dan is out of the room to clean the cage.
Heh.
Four snakes absolutely know when they have the team advantage. Three of them are HUGE, and one is (their 'baby') only about ten feet, and big around as my arm. The minute Dan steps out, they BOLT for freedom, en masse.
What to do? Toss the plunger (useless) - GRAB TWO HEADS AT THE NECK (while they open their mouths, big as my FACE and hiss like steam kettles). While they push and shove me back against the bathroom wall, straining to flip me over, their two pals keep bolting over the tub rim. What to do? Shove them back in with one foot.
Yeah. Two snakes, grabbed, trying to knock me butt over teakettle, and two more getting their snouts kicked back into the bath (splish splash).
This scene goes on for about 20 minutes, until the snakes get tired, and Dan finishes cleaning the cage. He returns to the scene. Here's Janny, standing back leaned against the wall, slapping the toilet plunger handle against her opposite palm, while the SNAKES are passed out flat in the tub.
Dan's comment, "I don't understand it. They're always so GOOD for you....!"
LMAO...that's funny! scary! but funny.
If it had been me, the first snake and Dan would have had to fix his roof because there would be a large Hugh shaped hole in the roof where I promptly left the scene.
Your a brave person! Give me mamals with lots of sharp teeth! (Lions and tigers and bears ...OH, MY) but if you give me snakes bigger than I am, I'm bringin' my shot gun and it won't be pretty!
I have a live and let live policy...I draw the line when the big scary (or little scary) creatures come in the house with me.
Becky wrote: "Okay, love the snake story. I've got a similar cat and mouse story, but I won't put it here. Janny, big applause for your reparation of the raptor. We have an African Grey parrot, so I know how ..."I'm glad you like it...um... are you aware that you've pretty much duplicated the natural food chain there. Mouse Bird Cat ...dog?
Curmudgeon wrote: "LMAO...that's funny! scary! but funny.
If it had been me, the first snake and Dan would have had to fix his roof because there would be a large Hugh shaped hole in the roof where I promptly lef..."
Trust me, one wouldn't have considered renting that carriage house without being, in equal measure, a lover of critters, as well as books. Daniel P. Mannix landlord, was a well loved author, an eccentric, and a rabid naturalist. The stories of his exploits would have you in stitches. He wrote for True magazine, and besides notable titles in fiction and nonfiction (which covered some very esoteric topics), you can read of his madcap experiences in his autobiography, All creatures great and small - Yes, this book has the same title, yet predated Herriot's by many a long year. Dan also worked in a circus side show - and his dry sense of humor recounts that in Step Right Up!, which also came out as a paperback, but under a different title.
Living there for over a decade - I have my own stock of crazy stories. It's the one place I've ever stayed, where no MATTER what wild activity I pursued, what went on in the main house was by lengths more crazy.
Dan kept everything living, from taranatulas, (yes, they eat live mice), exotic lizards, to ocelots and coyotes, foxes and eagles - these for a rehab breeding program, and another, damaged by improper shipment in a cage, bequeathed by the zoo. He wrote the test for PA falconers to get their licenses, and also, did some of the primary research on vampire bats. (let them loose in his bedroom to feed, while his wife took notes - now THAT - shudder!!!) When his rambunctious menagerie escaped, or when something cold or warm blooded needed medicine, well, guess who was on call to help. Needless to say I learned a great deal about odd subjects, and specialized anacronisms like falconry, and had an unparalleled opportunity to sketch from life.
You know, as crazy as it sounds, it also sounds like a WONDERFUL place to be. It's like my dream job growing up (the snakes...not so much but the rest of it...!). And what a place to get some first hand experience at things needed for a good "epic fantasy?" ... where are you going to learn "falconry" if you live in Washington D.C. or New York City? (though New York does have flacons in the city.)
I bet the stories are wonderful (the snake story was fun!) you should write a compiment piece to his ... "The Adventures of Janny the Crazy Snake Charmer's Apprentice!" or something catchy like that.
I'm green with envy!
Curmudgeon wrote: "You know, as crazy as it sounds, it also sounds like a WONDERFUL place to be. It's like my dream job growing up (the snakes...not so much but the rest of it...!). And what a place to get some fi..."
Well, yes, it was a huge opportunity. And I'd read Dan's books as a teen, so it was more than AWESOME, for a just barely out of college, wet behind the ears, wannabe writer/illustrator.
And yes, I've leaned on everything, stuffed many a 'real life' fact into the writing of books.
Did you know that Dan wrote the ORIGINAL The Fox and The Hound, which animated film pulled Disney back from the brink of bankruptcy? They had TRIED to do the book (which is not a children's tale, and is nothing short of incredible) as a live action film, but, heh, they couldn't get the fox and the hound, for real, to cooperate, so it was shifted to an animation script. The rest is history.
Yes, I have written up various whacky experiences, here and there, and they've had many a party in stitches. Nothing formal, though. I preferred to direct folks to Dan's experiences in his books. Now that he's passed on, though...it could make for a fun string of blog posts or something.
It surely would... and it opens up all sorts of questnions ... like... would one chapter be named..."My First Date After Moving In, We Never Saw Him Again... I Hope it Really Was "Me" Not My Housemates,If You Know What I Mean."
Come to think of it, a pair of 25 foot snakes... that could be good environment to write horror stories too.
That's really cool about The Fox and the Hound. Was it like Watership Down, you know an animal story, or a Like "Where the Red Fern Grows?"
And maybe forget the blog and the book and write a script for a sitcom! The potential there is huge! Heh... just kidding, I like the blog idea a lot. Yours was a wonderful, funny, wild, unusual and yes, I could imagine the wraslin' match (that's how we say it in the country, wraslin') with the snakes. That's a great story... if you Know Jason White, (Moderator on several of the Aficionado threads and also an author) he has an hillarious beaver story (that was related on the thread where my snake story first appeared. Matthew Riley (Scarecrow) we were talking about the critters that are in his books that eat a lot of people...
anyway... love the story and I'm feverishly looking to see if there are some Kindle Copies of Daniel P. Manix's All Creatures Great and Small!
(he doesn't have pictures of the snakes in it does he?)
Curmudgeon wrote: "It surely would... and it opens up all sorts of questnions ... like... would one chapter be named..."My First Date After Moving In, We Never Saw Him Again... I Hope it Really Was "Me" Not My Hous..."
Oh, Lord - the 'date' stories alone!!! Spew alert for the keyboard, with coffee, just THINKING about those memories.
Dan was a naturalist, and he had a 'way' of understanding/studying the motivations behind animal behavior. He kept critters all his life. The BOOK, Fox and the Hound, was a story about a fox and a hound - but NOT anthropomorphized. NEVER! He wrote from the animals' POV, and from their very real motivations - it's an award winning book for a very good reason.
The animated film used the 'action' events, but turned the animals into cutesy characters, like Bambi...
I highly recommend the books - they are not children's stories at all, and lend a lot of insight into a wide number of subjects. I've had librarians tell me: his books were hot, in that, they were invariably stolen from the shelves. For a good reason - they are extremely well done! The Healer was made into a 2 part TV episode for Disney.
Later, grin, I will vet All Creatures Great and Small for you and be sure there are not pictures of snakes, though - for a fact - I believe it's likely.
Janny wrote: "Later, grin, I will vet All Creatures Great and Small for you and be sure there are not pictures of snakes, though - for a fact - I believe it's likely."That would be great.. and this does it...
Oh, Lord - the 'date' stories alone!!! Spew alert for the keyboard, with coffee, just THINKING about those memories.
I'm starting a petting to encourage Janny Wurtz to start a "The Snake Charmer's Apprentice" blog with those wonderful stories... and maybe a second sub-blog with the date stories. ({B-:{D>)
I'm sure you can come up with a snazzier title. I dated till I was 27 (ish) and, I can still remember a lot of those awkward first meetings. Throw a 25 foot Python in there and... trust me, there's no way this couldn't be an amusing anecdote or a lesson about having exotic animals around dates before they have been properly trained.
um.. the dates I mean, not the animals.
Curmudgeon wrote: "Becky wrote: "Okay, love the snake story. I've got a similar cat and mouse story, but I won't put it here. Janny, big applause for your reparation of the raptor. We have an African Grey parrot, ..."Sorry, no dog. You have to WALK them! The cats, not so much. When we first brought Floyd the parrot home, the cats were very interested. Now, almost four years later, the bird is just another thing that makes noise to them. Even when he screams their names at them. The cats will look at him as if to say "What do YOU want? You're in a cage."
Oh yes, please! "The Snake Charmer's Apprentice" sounds absolutely wonderful!
Janny wrote: "Becky wrote: "Okay, love the snake story. I've got a similar cat and mouse story, but I won't put it here. Janny, big applause for your reparation of the raptor. We have an African Grey parrot, ..."Okay, so here's the "short" version of my cat story:
My cat, Captain Tripps, and I lived in New York City for several years with a very talented musician. We had a studio apartment above a 24-hour restaurant, which served the best cheeseburgers in the world. Obviously having all that food around, there was bound to be a rodent contingent.
One night, actually, the middle of the night, Tripps was having way too much fun running around the living area. The very talented musician, who stood about 6’3” and weighed in at over 200 pounds, shook me awake to announce that “Tripps has a mouse.” Since I’d spent my formative years on the farm, this was not earth-shaking news to me. I worked a day job, so I was not particularly pleased at being woken up and told that my cat was doing what cats like to do. But the very talented musician was not pleased when I said “So what? He’ll kill it, leave it at the foot of the bed and in the morning we can tell him what a good cat he is and we’ll throw the mouse body away.”
There was nothing for it but to get out of bed and try to track down the mouse my cat was intent on keeping as a playtoy. Here I am in my oversized nightshirt and bare feet, looking under the couch, the bed, and the various electronic equipment necessary for a home recording studio, while the very talented musician has put on sweatpants with elastic at the ankles, socks and shoes in case the mouse wants to crawl up his leg. Whatever.
Needlesstosay, we did NOT find the mouse. We went back to bed and just as the very talented musician was drifting off to sleep, I fluttered the covers above his chest and said “Oh, look! The mouse!”
I didn’t know anybody could jump that high from the prone position. How I wish I’d had a video camera! I was laughing so hard, I’m sure I scared the mouse out of the apartment. The very talented musician told me I could never tell anyone of his reaction. So of course, I told everyone!
And in the morning, sitting at the foot of the bed (on MY side) looking all proud of himself, Tripps displayed his kill for me. I patted his head, told him he was the best kitty in the world and threw the mouse carcass in the trash.
Speaking as the mother of Hugh, the Curmudgeon, I could tell you some of HIS snake stories. ;-D
Patti wrote: "Speaking as the mother of Hugh, the Curmudgeon, I could tell you some of HIS snake stories. ;-D"ah...hi, mom! See, I wasn't kiddin' about the snake stuff. One of my first complete sentences was "Now the snakes can't get it." right, Mom?
Becky, That's funny too. We used to have two Basset Hounds and two cats... so we had to get a king sized bed just to hold everybody. I kept wonder when I was going wake up and find a mouse, lizard, or some other small unfortunate creature left form my inspection. Fortunately that didn't happen.
I love the cat's name!
Us guys can be such wimps sometimes.
Becky wrote: "Janny wrote: "Becky wrote: "Okay, love the snake story. I've got a similar cat and mouse story, but I won't put it here. Janny, big applause for your reparation of the raptor. We have an African..."Roar of laughter, thanks Becky!
I will have to return the favor, when my day finishes, or I start the carriage house tales, about the live trap that caught mice for the landlord's snakes/tarantulas/yes, this is true, piranhas...and also the story about the rats that moved into the crawl space above the ceiling...the one deterrent I was not allowed, there, was a cat. He kept hawks, and that was a deal breaker.
Patti wrote: "Speaking as the mother of Hugh, the Curmudgeon, I could tell you some of HIS snake stories. ;-D"Patti, egg, egg, egg - do tell!!!
Janny wrote: "Patti wrote: "Speaking as the mother of Hugh, the Curmudgeon, I could tell you some of HIS snake stories. ;-D"Patti, egg, egg, egg - do tell!!!"
Rut-roh! (Yes, about this time the motto, grit your teeth and bare it comes to mind)
it's okay mom... um... you could always tell the Adam kitty story (stop, Kitty, Stop Kitty!)
Janny wrote: "Patti wrote: "Speaking as the mother of Hugh, the Curmudgeon, I could tell you some of HIS snake stories. ;-D"Patti, egg, egg, egg - do tell!!!"
Okay... you can tell them any stories you want, but my parachute if things get too embarrassing for me is the "Stop Kitty" story.
And I have a mouse story too.
I left some more Hugh-snake-info at the end of the funny telling of Hugh's snake story. We might point out that 'the city girl' captured the snake. ;-)I guess I AM getting old. I can't keep up with the various threads as they weave in and out. Heck, I can't even tell my son when the most convenient time to call is and translate it to his time zone. (One hour, that's all. One hour.)
BTW, Janny, I have read some of your books. Liked them very much! The series about the off-planet Oriental-like society. Rift? Obviously, it has been a while. Really suspenseful!
the code is broken... calling in soon, I'm 15 minutes late... The bubba-nator is having... tranquility issues.
Aha! Found it!Hugh, the snake story is terrific! Even if I am your mother. If anyone is still reading, when he was two his aunt made him a snake out of silky fabric, because he loved the feel silky stuff. The pattern was the BC comic snake. We hoped it would cure him. Guess not.
He didn't tell about the time he step out the door into the patio barefoot and stepped on a ribbon snake. The two ends of the snake went up opposite side of his pants leg. Have you ever seen a 16 year old boy levitate?
BTW, again, I wrote as Patricia Frances Rowell for Harl Historicals. Thus the 'romantic hat'.
Patti wrote: "BTW, Janny, I have read some of your books. Liked them very much! The series about the off-planet Oriental-like society. Rift? Obviously, it has been a while. Really suspenseful!"Patti, that would be the Empire series, done in collaboration with Raymond E. Feist. Thanks!
Also - you as author Patricia Frances Rowell - quite obviously, you have passed on your gift for storytelling and timed punchlines to your son!
Patti wrote: "He didn't tell about the time he step out the door into the patio barefoot and stepped on a ribbon snake. The two ends of the snake went up opposite side of his pants leg. Have you ever seen a 16 year old boy levitate? "Cleared a six foot privacy fence. It was like the Phisbury Flop!
Curmudgeon wrote: "Patti wrote: "He didn't tell about the time he step out the door into the patio barefoot and stepped on a ribbon snake. The two ends of the snake went up opposite side of his pants leg. Have you ev..."LOL!!! that must have been a sight.
Yea, because I had just met the twins across the streat...(can you say doublemint?) then, I realized that I had no shirt and long pants...and, I wasn't exactly a bronze God yet....okay still working on that last part...then, step on a snake and screamed like a girl.. My dating life didn't get to a screeching start...unless you count going backwards.
Congrats on the save, Janny. Loved the snake story. I'll have to read some of Dan's books.Hugh, snakes can make anyone scream like a girl. I'm usually pretty good with them, but I put our lawn mower into the pond one time because of a sudden encounter. My step father was furious until I told him why. Then he went pale & looked at the ground very carefully.
;-)
Oh, yea...I firmly believe snakes are dangerous...snakes make you run into trees... SNAKE aaaahh...TREEEEE (Bang!)
Jim wrote: "Congrats on the save, Janny. Loved the snake story. I'll have to read some of Dan's books.Hugh, snakes can make anyone scream like a girl. I'm usually pretty good with them, but I put our lawn..."
You haven't read Mannix? Oh, Jim, I imagine you would LOVE his work! His farm was located in Chester County, PA, not so very far from Maryland, so you could imagine how his ideosyncrasies went down with the old monied society crowd. They came to his parties because he was an eccentric, but omg, there are stories there too, when they encountered his VERY dry sense of humor.
I recall very clearly looking out the window of the carriage house - you'll appreciate this - in mid MARCH - mud season. And here he is, leading all these beautifully dressed guests out to the STABLE YARD to see "my lovely new turkeys." (Sense the ring of irony there???? SNORT!! Picture: Stable yard: march thaws: about a foot of MUCK, and here are these society women in their diamonds and spike heels, (yes, the little shoes dyed precisely the same color to match their evening wear hand bags (read, in fashion jargon, 'clutches') PICKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SHEEP MUCKY MUD!!! like so many flocking chickens, and of course, sinking ankle deep into the ooze. I thought I'd DIE laughing. And you KNOW Dan did this on purpose, not saying a word, seeing if they were dumb enough to follow.
And Hugh, Dan also did a book, also, nonfiction, titled The Old Navy. He was very well traveled, and his life had a ton of adventure.
Curmudgeon wrote: "Oh, yea...I firmly believe snakes are dangerous...snakes make you run into trees... SNAKE aaaahh...TREEEEE (Bang!)"You know, Hugh, that quote is likely to become a household line around here!
Did I mention the time Don ran over a cottonmouth in the front ditch with the tractor mower, and had to put it out of its misery with a shovel? Well this is FLORIDA with a state park next door with a buzzard roost in it that holds upwards of 200 birds every night. They eat EVERYTHING dead within seconds!
Not that cotton mouth. It sweltered in the full summer heat for FOUR DAYS. Untouched. Until the last: we had four vultures elbow to elbow - I mean, shouldered up together on the fence by that snake, digging each other in the ribs for THREE HOURS...you could see the word balloons.
"You jes hop down thar and see if she's deid."
"No, pal, YOU do it."
"After you, dummy, I ain't gettin' bit!"
"No, YOU FIRST, Gaston!"
This snake was so damned dead it reeked! I guess those birds had lost a few hot headed kin.
Word back from the neighbors, today: still two hawk chicks in the nest. Awwww.
Janny wrote: "Curmudgeon wrote: "Wow...Your an Action Hero...If you were also a vampire, you'd be in a book!"Vampire? Book? ;) I guess the broad daylight wrecks that notion.
Update: there are still two chicks..."
Very cool! Here in the Great Smoky Mountains we routinely have black bear walking up and down our street, along with fox, wild turkey, coyotes and other assorted critters. However, I chose not to help the baby black bear that was sitting in my neighbors yard crying piteously as the German Shepherd aggressively barked at it. I figured Mama Bear was close by.
Cheers!
I'd rather take my chances with the big black bear mama than the big 25ft snake...but, that's me.
Matthew wrote: "Janny wrote: "Curmudgeon wrote: "Wow...Your an Action Hero...If you were also a vampire, you'd be in a book!"Vampire? Book? ;) I guess the broad daylight wrecks that notion.
Update: there are st..."
Matthew - whew, I'll say!!! you wouldn't want to mess with a bear cub! I'd deal with snakes any any any day than risk a ticked mama bear! Wise you.
Janny, Nice to see someone giving from the heart, bless you. Many would have walked on by, you didn't.
I have just rescued a fledgling jackdaw! Sadly the nest he was in fell down my chimney and was lodged behind my sealed gas powered fire! Happily, though, after removing the fireplace there was one baby jackdaw ready to be rescued. I am currently working on getting him, as I call him Jacky Can, to fly.
Stephen Richards
Stephen wrote: "Janny, Nice to see someone giving from the heart, bless you. Many would have walked on by, you didn't.
I have just rescued a fledgling jackdaw! Sadly the nest he was in fell down my chimney and ..."
Walked on by? I just couldn't. ;)
Wow, removing that fireplace must have been some work!
We fed up a starving crow baby, once, and fledged him out (the parents never left) - they learn SO FAST! And corvids - so clever. We held onto his feet and did 'elevators' up and down to strengthen his wings, this, on the advice of the wildlife rehabber I consulted.
I wish you stellar success with Jacky.
May I say I truly enjoy your posts and many empowering remarks - they so often lift my day. Thanks!
Janny wrote: "Curmudgeon wrote: "Janny wrote: "Later on, I'll post you a story back about my landlord (Mannix) and HIS snakes...they were 20-25 feet long, and big around as my thigh..."That would be great but...."
You know I luv, love, LOVE this snake story!
