syrinx

What does one do about "stray animals" in one's backyard that have become a "nuisance"? Specifically, what can you do about cats that stalk birds around your bird feeder, when adopting a dog as guard dog is not an option?

The butterflies in the backyard don't seem to be in danger, but the bird feeder not only attracts birds, but the birds seem to attract well fed, unleashed, domestic cats with collars and tags and everything, who take a great deal of interest in stalking birds.

tags: animal cat bird kills ny times stray control nuisance ethics

target in the telephoto lens

shoot! shoot! shoot!
What! You're not going to catch it and choloroform it and pin it to a board in a display case? What kind of butterfly enthusiast are you anyway?

tags: spring humor animal monarch butterfly migration prey wild telephoto lens snarky

A study done recently determined that roosters will lie to attract a female. And the hens, after initally falling for the cad, will learn to ignore him! The hens also prefer their males to be brave.

Read the whole thing here:
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s692455.htm

tags: chickens animal behaviour

Maybe it's because there are only 5 of them, instead of 50. Maybe it's because we spent a lot of time with them when they first came to help acclimatize them to our two large dogs. Maybe it's because they can hang around the house where the dogs hang.

Whatever the reason, the fact is, we now appear to have 5 more 'dogs'. We started off with 5 sheep.

tags: sheep farm animal dog behavour