Backyard Wildlife

Spring has sprung, and the backyard is full of life. Our cat Kato has increased the number of small critters he drags into the house through his cat door (a bird, a small mole, and a chipmunk in the past week alone) as offerings to his human staff. The mole survived the ordeal, but the bird was evidently a crunchy treat for Kato. I have no idea where the chipmunk is now; I only hope I don't step on a chipmunk carcass some sleepy morning...

A small bird has taken up residence in the birdhouse on our front porch, and her eggs have hatched. She has a black and white hood that reminds me of a nun's head covering, so I have named her Heloise, after one of my favorite medieval nuns. A few days ago I was sitting on the front porch with Kato, reading The Five Books of Moses (which I am still working through, very slowly, taking frequent time-outs to read other, less violent books) when we heard loud chirping noises coming from the birdhouse. Before I knew what was happening, Kato leaped up onto me, his back claws dug into my chest, and was attempting to climb on top of my head and reach the chirping birds. The birdhouse is in a cat-proof location, so the baby birds are safe, at least for now.

Speaking of cats and predators: the new Pope appears to love, and to be loved by, cats. So he can't be all bad, right? Right?



This cat, meditating in a Myanmar temple, is grateful to be Buddhist.