Tuesday 6 May 2014

THE FOOD-SHARE Part 2

THE FOOD-SHARE - Part 2

   Within two years, the change has been devastating. A complete violation of nature once more, where a bio diverse system has been destroyed. And by what? By a group of so-called forward-thinking architects and planners who designed and built a new suburb of nature-friendly constructions for environmentally aware residents.
   Such a nature-aware lot of humans, that the first thing I notice when looking over at this new development, is that there isn't even a single tree in sight. And so, therefore, no birds either.
   During this time of oft-repeated violation of nature, the kookaburras, who had previously had a north-south hunting behaviour, now are attuned to east-west. And this being due to their integration with Australian ravens in a pine plantation on the western end of the green space. I hear Barney and his family "laughing" from different directions along its length. Their hunting now, of course, is much reduced of prey and the days when I hear them are very few.
   Sparrowhawks have also been forced to look further a-field, and this has resulted to almost daily visits to my suburb. Now, because of this, the suburban magpies, currawongs and pee wees (as the species who don't take kindly to hawks), give noisy chase to the predators while garden birds, who are the potential prey, flee to hiding places.
   And so, trying to add a little assistance here, I practice a "food-share" as often as I can.
   Because of the many backyard compost piles, aviaries and chicken coups in the suburb, mice are an unappreciated addition. As secretive as they are though, those which chose my pigeons' aviary as a source of nocturnal nourishment, were silly enough to give away the whereabouts of their breeding sites.
   Giving them the benefit of a free feast, by way of a cute little contraption the mice can't resist climbing into, (only to find they can't get out of), I catch as many of the little horrors as I can. Then, as they're still alive, I release them on the green space. In fact, I aim the contraption towards the new suburb, and 'fling' the glad-to-get-away critters in that direction. Come night, when they're fully active, and the highway is devoid of most traffic, the most adventurous survivors among them, will cross over to a new life.
   Everyone's happy.
   The mice are happy to be free of imprisonment. The magpies hunting in the area are immediately alerted and happy. The kookaburras will have an opportunity to feast as well....and the new suburbanites, I'm sure, will be happy to be made aware that nature has provided them with a visiting challenge.
   And I'm happy too. Smugly delighted with joyful revenge.
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