We have 5 outdoor farm cats. They do a great job of keeping the mice down to a minimum. However...
The thing about cats, they are equal-opportunity hunters.
In their small, determined minds -- a mouse is as good as a Meadowlark -- even though they are fully aware -- I'm thrown into a panic whenever I see one of the them has been successful in catching a bird.
Yesterday, my husband was sitting at the dining room table and looking out one of the large picture windows. He calmly commented, "one of the cats has something yellow..."
Aaack! How could he be so nonchalant? I immediately thought Tuki had captured another goldfinch, so I flew into action.
Ripping open the back door, I scanned the brown landscape for a hint of yellow.
It was Howie this time, with an adult Meadowlark in his mouth. Goddammit.
While he ran across the yard, headed towards one of the spruce trees, I chased after him, all the while my eyes transfixed on the struggling bird in his small, but deadly jaws.
I grabbed Howie by the back of the neck and carefully removed the bird from his grasp. Turning the bird over in my hands, I did not see any puncture wounds or blood. That was a good thing, but by this time, all five cats are following me back towards the house, hoping and praying the Meadowlark would break free and drop to the ground for another round of "catch me if you can."
Didn't happen.
I quickly stepped inside the house, dodging two curious German Shepherds and two indoor house cats. I handed the Meadowlark to my husband while I went to grab my camera. (I mean, when would I get another opportunity like this?)
Despite being literally snatched from the jaws of death, he was ruffled and extremely unhappy.
Oops. Almost lost him.
After locking the cats into the garage, my husband took Mr. Meadowlark back to the pasture, where we trust he gathered his dignity and strength and flew away.
: : :
If this is your first time visiting A Rural Journal, I'd like to invite you to subscribe via email for the latest updates. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Pinterest and Flickr.
GOOD SAVE! That's one lucky meadowlark! Great pics, too.
ReplyDeleteWow - that was some adventure wasn't it. Glad it worked out well for the meadowlark :-)
ReplyDeleteWoof! Woof! Oh they are beautiful cats. Our neighbors got 4 rescue cats too and always outside ... they watch our street and relax on our driveway. Glad Mr. Meadowlark found his strength. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
ReplyDeleteGooooorgeous cats, they would get away with lots just thanks to their beauty..! :-) Lucky, lucky birdie as well! :-)
ReplyDeleteOMG, gorgeous black cats I love. The cat may find the lost of his hunting. Fortunate bird escaped from the tiger's month.
ReplyDeleteThe meadowlark was lucky you were around. I have five outside cats too and while I am happy the mouse population is kept to a minimum I do worry about the birds. I have rescued a couple from the cats' jaws. I still love my kitties no matter what they hunt.
ReplyDeletei´m happy you could save the bird! :)
ReplyDeletethat's the cats' nature! My sister's cat brings home virtually each her victim home...
ReplyDeleteBlog about life and travelling
Blog about cooking
So happy to hear the Meadowlark was ok. They are in a decline in my area. Gorgeous bird!
ReplyDeleteWow super Hero Nancy good save. Beautiful photos. xo B
ReplyDeleteIm so glad you saved him! He does look a bit pissed off though doesn't he?! :)
ReplyDeleteThat was close.... I bet that bird was happy to see you
ReplyDeleteImpressive!!Do you have a bumper sticker that says 'I brake for butterflies'???? Cause I need one of those ;)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you were able to rescue him!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, great save...love cats BUT...kill so many birds....sad....thanks for giving the beautiful Meadowlark asecond chance.....Blessings Frasncine.
ReplyDeleteThree black cats sitting on a ledge certainly are "eye catchers" but the real "catch" is the beautiful Meadowlark brought to safety. Lucky save! Great photos . . .
ReplyDeletePoor bird! Way to go for you on the save!
ReplyDeleteThey look so innocent, don't they? ;-) Wonderful photos, Nancy!
ReplyDeleteMy Gelly is a great little huntress but she catches her share of birds too, I've managed to rescue a few, some sadly were too injured to recover... sigh.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever seen a Meadowlark before - what a beautiful bird! I am so glad you saved it!!
ReplyDeleteI do hope it made it okay. It is funny (not ha ha funny) that we try to rescue some of their "food". I cheer when the 'girls' catch some burrowing thing...
ReplyDeleteCats are like that. I actually had one of mine catch and kill my baby peacock and left it sitting right in the barn for me to find. Snot. I got the message he was mad at me.
ReplyDeletei think you need a few more cats. that post only holds a few... too funny. gorgeous meadowlark. lovely colors.
ReplyDeletehey, i have a Christmas giveaway going on at my blog ... please be sure to stop by. have a great week. ( :
Great post! You must be a blogger... having the presence of mind to grab your camera! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd what a beautiful bird. Glad you rescued it from your ferocious felines...
Dat dah dah dah!!! Super hero Nancy to the rescue!
ReplyDeleteMy dogs do the same thing. They scour the bushes, one rousts out the birds and the other nabs them when they fly out. Breaks my heart but it's what they have done for centuries and always will. *Sigh*
Good job! :)
ReplyDeleteThose are some beautiful, intent-looking cats in that first picture. Glad you thought of grabbing the camera and that your hubby helped you get some great pictures!
Good save Momma...ahem...Momma Bird :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad that little Meadowlark was saved. Well Done
ReplyDeleteYour photo's are Fab.
Sheila
x
What a heroic rescue! Cats = 0 Nancy = 1
ReplyDeleteYOU ARE AWESOME!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this brilliant story, Thank you for sharing yourself with all of us.
Love & Love,
-g-
Great save! That is one lucky bird.
ReplyDeleteI love the photos you snapped of those predators (I do love cats) and yes, they are great keeping the mice barn in check. Glad you were able to save the bird!! I wonder what was going through his scared little mind.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you were able to intervene! This time it's the bird that has the 9 lives ;-)
ReplyDeleteHowie must be a very fast cat! I don't think about cats taking a fence-sitting bird like that! That image of the cats on the ledge is so wonderful. I'm happy you rescued the Meadowlark---Oregon's state bird. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a story! I was on the edge of my seat. So happy the bird wasn't injured. He certainly is a pretty little thing and you took advantage of your photo opp quite nicely. Sad to see your blog memes coming to an end. :(
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I have never seen a meadowlark either, so I loved the opportunity. We have a barn cat that looks just like yours on the left - and I have snatched bunnies from his jaws of death and saved them so I can relate to this. He is a good mouser tho.
ReplyDeleteI love your cats.
ReplyDeletepoor baby. i hope he made it. :)
ReplyDeleteWoah! Great save! So happy you were able to take him far away and let him go. Good work! :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cats! :) And a very lucky birdie, indeed. :D
ReplyDeleteI read some statistics recently saying that cats are the number 1 reason why the bird population is decreasing at such a rate. This little one Nancy was lucky you are so vigilant.
ReplyDeleteI am very hesitant to get another cat for this reason alone. Sure it is 'natural' for cats to do this....whatever THAT means!! The cat population my be just a tad too high, I say!
Great post Nancy.
Great save Nancy! (Good shots too!)
ReplyDeleteYou have beautiful barn cats :o)
Rose H
x
Love how you squeezed in a photo op into this whole event - my husband would not have been cooperative -- so extra points for team effort.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice save! So tell me - do the cats eat the mice? lol sandie
ReplyDeleteYay! So happy you saved him! He's beautiful indeed. Meadowlarks have such lovely song.. but then you know that. :) I'm glad also that the bird had no serious wounds. I love cats, but dislike their instinct to hunt birds. If i had my way, they'd stick with mice! Alas... nature doesn't do what we prefer...
ReplyDeleteNancy, he is beautiful and so glad for the happy ending.
ReplyDeleteGreat save!! And quick thinking, getting a portrait session in!!! He's so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWow! I hope your intervention enabled that beautiful bird to survive. I'm normally an advocate for inside cats only but I understand the important job farm cats do in keeping down the vermin.
ReplyDeleteLucky meadowlark! Cats will be cats and your three there sure are beautiful specimens.
ReplyDeleteNancy,
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing, I can't believe you got the bird out of your cat's mouth. LOL, I would have loved to have seen that. What a beautiful bird. Great save.
Vanessa
That's one lucky Meadowlark!! And you got some great close ups too. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI am impressed...you chased down the cat, rescued the bird from his mouth, unharmed, got it to safety, got great pictures and released it back to nature. I really would love to have been a witness to that. You Rock!
ReplyDeleteWow...just wow!
ReplyDelete