Fawna frolics

One of the most beautiful things about living on our rural land in the country is enjoying the native inhabitants we share it with. Our 5 acres has all the necessities to qualify for a "wildlife habitat" designation by the National Wildlife Federation. We have lots of places they can shelter and raise their young, including a bamboo forest, blackberry brambles and thicket of trees. We have a small year-round creek that winds through our property to quench the thirst of any critter. We have food, including a large grassy field for animals to forage in and wild berries, wild grapes and orchard trees that we share with them. And, lastly, we have enough land to provide protection for breeding and the precious offspring that result. It's so rewarding to see the increased appearance of animals, such as the deer population when our plum tree is heavy with fruit. The deer know exactly when the fruit ripens and congregate here to feast on its bounty. In the last two weeks, two bucks and two does have hung around until every plum was eaten, leaving only plum pits to remember them by. During the "harvest" time they were here, and for the first time, the deer encountered our two domestic kittens – Tuxedo and Brat. Our adopted kittens, now about 7 months old, enjoy their indoor/outdoor lifestyle and provide us with the companionship we had been missing since our wonderful dog, Lucky, died at age 15. I call our cats our "therapy" animals because they provide a sense of grounding and unquestioned affection. One recent day, I gazed in wonder when I witnessed Tux and one young buck slowly approach each other on our lawn. There was no fear, just a playful curiosity as they touched noses and sniffed each other before they heard a noise that scared them apart. Then, another day, I witnessed the same thing only this time, after exchanging sniffs, the young buck circled Tux while gently hopping as if to invite Tux to play with him. It warms my heart to see this display of affection between two totally different species. I love to sit on the large, covered porch of our century-old home while drinking my tea and just watch and listen to the sounds and actions of nature. After morning feeding, I take our kitties for a little stroll around the property – this ritual helps limber up my joints and gives me time to assess the needs on our property: The oak tree needs trimming … two new perennials need planting … the gopher mounds need raking … the invasive star thistle needs mowing … the filters on the drip irrigation need cleaning … the flower beds need weeding, etc, etc. Such is life in the country. On my morning stroll, the kitties love to bolt across the lawn and end up in a tree. But recently, as soon as they're out the door, a now-familiar noise comes from our large oak tree. This morning, I looked up into the tree and saw two mockingbirds taunting our cats with their calls while aggressively swooping down time after time to "attack" them. This time, their squawks were especially constant and aggressive. Then, I noticed some movement in a nearby bush as the birds continued their constant barrage of assaults on the cats. As I approached the bush, I saw the reason for the birds' ferocity – a baby bird peeled out from the behind the leaves on the bush, just about to fledge. Its parents were guiding the young bird to fledge, yet they were also warning it of the danger below, which explains the constant warning from its protective parents. I scooped up Tux and Brat and took them inside the house, where they soon took a nap after their morning stroll. I was happy I could intervene and now I know to listen for the birds. One reason we wanted cats was to help control the hundreds of gophers on our acreage. We've tried so many things that ultimately failed so we took someone's advice to get cats. Yes, they are hunters and have brought us some "prizes" – lizards, mice, insects and yes, one small gopher they tossed around like a ball, but as I watched the helpless creature I couldn't stand seeing the torture so I rescued it and hid it away from the cats … purpose defeated. Such is life in the country. Each day offers new things – a lot of work but rewards beyond description. Irene Smith has enjoyed rural living for more than 30 years and wants to share experiences and lessons learned from this lifestyle for the benefit of others. You can share your comments and experiences with Irene at n8rlvr2009@gmail.com.