Bird Talk: the great garden standoff
Strawberries are the prize
A young crow joined a pair of mature crows on a street lamp.
“Whatcha looking at?” asked the young crow.
“There must be something good in that garden,” said the first mature crow.
“How can you tell?”
“Observe bunny sitting on the lawn,” said the second mature crow. “It hasn’t moved in a while.”
“And there’s another bunny loitering in the middle of the road,” said the first mature crow.
“So what?” said the young crow.
“Notice the two squirrels at the bottom of the tree pretending to ignore each other,” said the first mature crow.
“And there’s another one acting nonchalant under the bird bath,” said the second crow.
“I don’t get it,” said the young crow.
The mature crows exchanged glances.
“Each bunny and squirrel is trying to out wait the others,” said the first mature crow. “Hoping the others will go away.”
“Why?”
“God, it’s like to talking to a bloody seagull!” squawked the first mature crow.
“There’s clearly some good food in that yard,” said the second mature crow.
“Ah,” said the young crow. “And they’re acting all aloof about it because they don’t want the others to figure it out and then have to fight over it.”
“Now he’s gettin’ it!” cawed the first mature crow.
“But the others do know!” said the young crow. “Else they wouldn’t all be doing the same thing.”
“Hilarious ain’t it!” said the two mature crows, cawing with laughter.
Down on the ground, none of the bunnies or squirrels seemed inclined to move on.
“Hey, Junior,” said the first mature crow. “Scout it out. See what’s down there that’s got them so focused.”
The young crow took off for a lap of the house and reported back shortly. He came back looking most excited.
“Ripe strawberries,” he announced proudly. “At the side of the house. And none with any bites taken out of them.”
The two mature crows exchanged another glance.
“Tell you what, Junior,” said the first mature crow. “You stay here and watch them. We’ll come back later and you can tell us what happened.”
“Sure!” said the young crow. “Happy to help.”
“What a dumb ass,” said the first mature crow, as they flew off.
“We’re not coming back, are we?” said second mature crow.
“Not unless you fancy some strawberries,” said the first mature crow.
Meanwhile, the bunnies and squirrels continued the stand off.
About the Creator
Content Misfit
Big universe in my head just trying to get out. Compulsive writer. Late-diagnosed autistic doing well on zoloft. Square peg often lost in landscape of round holes.
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