A lot of good questions have come up in the comments of recent posts, and we thought the questions were worth answering where everyone could see the answers. So welcome to our first ever Mailbag Q & A!
What kind of bird was that? It’s huge!
The bird in that post is a Florida sandhill crane. They grow to about 4 feet tall, though our friend is not quite full sized. Although it’s illegal to feed them, many people do, including some of our neighbors, and this guy pecks at our windows in part to get attention, hoping for a handout. They also peck at windows when they see their own reflections, but it’s obvious that he was not just looking at his reflection, since he was paying close attention to us, too. Our local sand hill cranes have been known to chase humans through the neighborhood who look like they might be about to offer something to eat. Being chased by a couple four-foot-tall birds is scary even to a full-sized human!
They are usually seen in mated pairs, so we’re hoping that our bird buddy will get a girlfriend soon and not come around as often to stare at us. It’s our job to stare at him.
Does Pierre always act that way when you’re making the bed?
Pierre usually huffs or sighs to show his annoyance when the bed is being made, but when he is feeling territorial about something like the sheets and the head peep doesn’t pay attention to his lashing tail of warning, he will eventually hiss and swat to get his message across. If she walks away and leaves him with no one to oppose, his hostility melts and he is back to his friendly self in minutes. He was soliciting attention in the living room only moments after that video was shot. The head peep’s hand, on the other hand, will have band aids for several more days.
The head peep wants to add that she would not have been smacked with Pierre’s claws if she wasn’t filming because she wouldn’t have pushed him quite as hard in the first place before walking away, and because she would have been able to see what her hand was doing rather than watching the viewfinder. While she did capture a glimpse of Pierre behaving badly, she knows it wasn’t the best idea, and she doesn’t recommend doing it to anyone else.
Do you ever see alligators on your cat TV?
We have in the past, but the most recent was four years ago. There aren’t any resident alligators in our pond, but up until a few years ago, it wasn’t unusual to see one during breeding season, when they are most active about moving around.
These are photos from the last time we saw the alligator, in 2010. They were taken with a point-and-shoot, which at that distance is a point-and-see-what-comes-out. The head peep wasn’t going to take close-ups of this guy without a telephoto lens.
Wow, you get some awesome critters where you live!
We wouldn’t want to get too close to that big birdie as he has a big beak and long legs.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Can tell you that the Florida sandhill crane would have freaked me out good !
It´s HUGE !!!
XOXO
The sandhill cranes around here have been getting into the road and causing problems. They tried to relocate one family and that didn’t turn out well at all. We think they’re pretty cool birds.
The Florida Furkids
Wow! That bird takes birdwatching to a whole new level!
Cool. Yes mommy sez when yous twyin’ tu get fotos and videos sumtimes human common sense goes out da window. MOL
Luv and Hugs and Kitty kisses
Dezi
We wanna watch the TV channel you’re watching!
OH I heard mom say how much she misses living in FL. She lived in melbourne and she loved seeing the alligators. I know she said she would not take chances but to see one in a drainage ditch for example was always a surprise and a reason to run for the camera! I haven’t seen Sandhill cranes in forEVER! she said.
Pierre, I make loud huffs of air but I do it just because. Mom loves the sound.
GREAT Q&A!!!
OMCS AN ALLIGATOR….JUMPIN’ CATFISH!!
HUGS MADI YOUR BFFF
Mr Crane looks like he might be attracted to Ashton! 😉
We missed that video of Huffy Pierre so we’ll have to ask Mommy to help us go back to that post. We think you have the most interesting Cat TV!
You have some very exciting visitors!
That was a fun post and y’all sure get some good channels on that Critter-TV!
You have the best TV channels! We are lucky to see a wasp. Our Aunt has a little farm and she had 4 emus. They were pretty big and even though they were pets (they have all passed on now), we wouldn’t want anything that big chasing us!
OMC -you have birds that are 4 feet tall???? we are so not moving down there….
Love the Q&A! I had no idea what kind of bird that was. It was interesting to learn about it.
I must have missed the Pierre video somehow, LOL.
You’ve got a zoo in your background!
Back yard, not background…
guys….thatz knot burd tee vee…. thatz a horror mewvie in de makin for a nite mare ta scare all nite mares….. rite in de middle oh da day…. better hope ta cod him doez knot stop back by with a gal pal…….eeeeeeeeeeegaa
🙂
Ooooooooooweeeeeeeeeeee we hope no more alligators come around for breeding!
Pierre you were just staking out your claim that’s all, we know you didn’t mean to hurt the head peep!
Very cool idea for a post
Very cool indeed and interesting too
That Pierre is a pistol
That crane is huge! Mum keeps saying she should do a post to answer questions now and again, but she keeps forgetting to make a note of the questions.
MOWZERS, that’s some SERIOUS BirdTV!! We don’t get that channel…. And we’re – uh – kinda glad we don’t get the Gator Channel either….
yow! you kitties get some pawsome nature programs on your tv 😀 our mom was in FL last week and saw some Sandhill Cranes walking along the side of the road and thought of you all and your friend there 🙂
PIp, Smidgen, Minnie, Hollie
Wow, that sure is something about the sandhill cranes! Yep, we agree too, you have Bird TV on steroids!
Whoa! We don’t get stuff like that. Only utility poles that snap and fall down and big fires. Our FB feed is usually exciting. Thanks for the answers. Pierre is still my hero.
Whoa!!! We don’t have EITHER of those CAT TV channels!
Do you have to pay extra for them???
; ) Katie
What a wonderful gotcha day story. Happy 9th Pierre!