wordsfromanneli

Thoughts, ideas, photos, and stories.

Category Archives: Animals


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Looking for Love

Two years ago almost to the day, a red-shafted flicker landed on our chimney to take advantage of the reverberations of the drumming on metal. It saves his vocal chords when calling for his girl.

Turn up the sound on the video, and watch for these cute little actions:

Mr. Flicker talks to Mrs. Flicker just before she arrives, doing a little dance on top of the chimney, tail feathers spread out as if he’s trying to be a peacock displaying his fan.

Mr. Flicker has the red cheek slash while Mrs. Flicker does not.

She arrives and looks around as if she’s trying to find a way up to the top. He chatters to encourage her, she flies down onto the other side of the roof, and then comes back for a second look. She stretches her neck to look around the other side of the chimney as if she’s looking for the elevator.

 

 

If you want to have another look at the video clips I put on here two years ago, including a love poem for birds, please click on the link.  https://wordsfromanneli.com/2024/03/22/calling-all-girls/

 


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Darth Vader of the Sea

Underwater placemats? Next time you have a fish dinner, wouldn’t it be interesting to use placemats with an underwater theme? The fish in the placemats could remind the fish on your plate of the many dangers in the sea.

Darth Vader of the Sea.

“I tell my friends those hooks can pierce,”

Says Dark Invader of the Sea.

“It’s only ‘cuz I look so fierce,

They simply cannot capture me.”

 

My friends stay close and mill around,

They feel much safer swimming near,

I wave my fins without a sound,

And, grinning, tell them not to fear.

 

 


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Spring Snow

There’s no denying snow looks fine,

It makes the scenery divine,

 But what effect on bird and beast?

I’m sure they like the snow the least.

 

They migrate down the mountainside

To lower levels and abide,

They beg the sun to melt the cold,

Because they’re tired of being bold.

 

In summertime the hillsides warm

And sunny bees will hum and swarm,

The berries waft about their taste,

So very few will go to waste.

 

The easy life of leisure times

Is special to the warmer climes,

And when the frosts of winter leave,

The living hill enjoys reprieve.


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Like it or not

Tired of this winter! Do you feel it too?

No time for resting with nothing to do.

Searching for food to keep warm every day,

When will the sun come out so we can play?

 

No leaves are out yet,  no blossoms appear,

I liken the weather to winter, I fear,

It looks like these lichens are tired of it, too,

I’m simply not likin’ it, how about you?


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Baja Dogs

We are the guardians of the roof,

And though it’s hot up here,

Our job is to say, “Woof-woof-woof,”

And strike all hearts with fear.

As chow I’m toughest of them all,

I make intruders stop,

I only hope that I don’t fall,

That would be quite a drop.

With me there is no serious threat,

I pace the roof above,

And what you see is what you get,

A dog in need of love.

I’m not a guard dog as you see,

I’d be one if I could,

The roof dogs all make fun of me,

Because I’m made of wood.

My name is Andy and I sleep,

I never am awake,

A battery makes me breathe so deep,

Because, you see, I’m fake.

 

*** Andy was a stuffed toy dog, just like a teddy bear. He had a battery inside him that made him look like he was breathing by making his chest go up and down. He had me totally fooled and the woman who owned him had him on her shop counter, loving every minute of my reaction as I asked if I could pet him. I was really surprised when she told me he was completely “not real.”


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Ratty Graffiti

Good morning world, it’s time to wake,

And see what’s been donated,

I don’t expect to get a cake,

But scraps are ‘preciated.

 

Oh goodness me! A note I see,

It says, “Go check the middle.”

But ratty got there before me,

I know, I smell his piddle.

 

And also I can tell his script,

His writing is atrocious,

His spelling’s bad, his letters flipped,

I know ‘cuz I’m  precocious.

 

But oh-h-h-h how awful are his words,

They’re crude and so disgusting.

And what of all the little birds,

Who surely will discuss them?

 

That dirty rat messed up my den,

And now I’ll have to paint it,

I hope he won’t do that again,

It’s really mean, now ain’t it?

 

No need to have a heart attack,

I’ll get a drink of water.

I’ll hang on with my toes in back,

I hope they hold, they oughter.

 

That’s better, and within my means,

This cone is good, don’t doubt it,

Or like in gangster movie scenes,

I’ll just fuggedaboudid.


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Bugs for Lunch

Please watch this clip and see the ways,

I work so hard to try,

To feed myself in hungry days,

To make sure I don’t die.

 

The maple bark was way too clean,

It came apart with ease,

But nought was there for me to glean,

No breakfast bite to please.

 

I flitted to a nearby fir,

You see the different bark,

Its bumpy, roughness won’t deter,

My beak will find the mark.

Oh dear! I must take much more care,

To eat bugs ere they fly,

Right in my armpit, he did dare

To bite me. “Now you’ll die!”

Elusive little bug, you are, 

But mind my bendy neck,

I’ll find you, and you won’t get far,

I’ll eat you with one peck.


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The Eagle-eyed Weatherman

My eagle eye inspects the sky

To ferret out the chill,

And now I’m left to wonder why

The snow came down at will.

 

I know it’s colder in the heights,

And all the air was wet,

So pondering that, I knew by rights,

That snow was what we’d get.

I’ve fluffed my feathers up a tad

To keep the warmth inside,

I’ll check the depth of snow we’ve had,

And take a chilly glide.

I hope you’re hibernating, all

You creatures of the hills,

You must have known this snow could fall,

It’s testing all our wills.

 

But worry not, the rain will pour,

And wash the ice away,

Then soothing days will evermore,

Bring sunshine every day.

 


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The Joy of Light and Warmth

So good to see the sun again!

I’d almost forgotten the wonderful glow

That sunshine can bring to the world after snow,

Natural therapy soaks into me,

Warming my spirits, survival is key.

 

I should have flown south, but decided to stay,

And when it got colder, each day after day,

I doubted the wisdom of staying in place,

Depending so much on the humans’ good grace.

 

The sugary feeders they offer get cold,

And often I knew that I had to be bold,

To drink icy syrup and fluff up my down,

Just trying to hold any heat to be found.

 

But wait, what is this? It’s a feeder with heat,

The nectar is warm, I should stretch out my feet,

To rest them and thaw them, to get through the day,

But simply to drink soothing warmth is okay. 

 

Today I was lucky and felt oh so good,

As sunny rays warmed me while perched on this wood,

It can’t be much longer before it is spring,

And whirring so freely, I’ll  joyfully sing.