In my years as a newspaper reporter/editor/photographer/and general catchall, I have seen some serious intimidation tactics employed for any number of reasons. But, I have never, and I stress never, seen anything like what went on in my own back yard this past Sunday.First, I’ll set the scene by telling you that I dug new flowerbeds ALL DAY Sunday (and yes, I’ve been paying for it for two days now). Digging, grading, weeding, bordering and mulching is hard work, and as if I needed a reminder, I now know why I like having a desk job.
While I was playing in the dirt in my front yard, Shado and Sable, the Wonder Shepherds, were rooting around in the backyard. And barking. Good Lord have mercy, was she barking. That is one thing Sable can do better than any canine in history.
As I dug and scraped, I could hear her steady exclamations of frustration coming from behind the house. After a while, I turned up my mP3 player and drowned her out. A short time later, I turned it up again when a little break through yapping disturbed my tunes and deep thoughts.
Then her barking went quickly from the “Mom’s in the front yard and I’m not and can’t see her” bark to the “panic alarm” bark. That change in frequency and pitch got my attention, and I dropped the shovel and ran my dirty red Crocs as fast as I could to the backyard.
At first glance, both dogs looked fine. Then Sable yapped again and skittered away from the back fence, her hair standing up on end. And, St. Clair County, that’s a pretty hysterical sight. My little delicate, snaggle-toothed German shepherd with the hair on her neck and just above her tail, poofed straight up. She looks like a well-styled Chia pet.
It was only then that I noticed the bird nest in the “tree with the white stuff on it” (that’s what a friend of mine calls it and I’m not savvy enough to correct him). The white blooms may have thinned, but the baby birds had not and Momma Bird was not a happy camper.
This is the second year she has returned to my house to nest (she’s not the only one) and they are always welcome. But this Momma Bird (I have no idea what she is and don’t plan on getting close enough to check) does not like sharing her corner of the yard with a canine.
It only took one bombing run for Shado to figure out the back corner of the yard is off limits for a while, but Sable, hooooo — negative.
Momma Bird was standing on the limb over Sable’s head just fussing at her. Sable stood there looking up and sassing her back. It was hysterical. I could have sold tickets to that. Then Momma Bird swooped down at Sable’s head and the big bad German shepherd ran like a big ‘ol chicken.
I fussed at Sable for barking and she caught on pretty quick, making sure she circumvented the tree from then on. She learns quick.
So, at my house, it’s Momma Bird one; Guard Dog zip. And no end in sight.
