Thursday, April 1, 2010

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

The rain finally stopped and the day grew bright. It was a good day to be a dog named George.

After his morning routine of walking, breakfast, frisbee playing and fetching stick, he stretched out in the sun for a lovely doggie nap.

But alas, along came a congregation of turkey vultures. This is a common occurrence. I think they like it here on the hill.

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George sees them arrive and immediately takes off to shoo them off the property. He’s appointed himself chief shoo-er of big ugly birds, he has.

And they all took off. Well, all but this one.

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But wait a minute. The one that remained is no turkey vulture. We don’t see too many of these around here.

This is a black vulture, and although it’s a large bird, it’s much smaller than the more common turkey vulture. He’s a scavenger bird and feeds on carrion but will also eat eggs and newborn animals. This bird is in an area populated by humans, however, so he’s probably after the garbage dumps. The turkey vulture has a finer sense of smell, however, so the black vulture will follow them around.

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Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.

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Get off my barn roof, says George. He is here giving him the evil border collie eye.

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You lookin’ at me, dog?

I repeat, ARE YOU LOOKIN’ AT ME?

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And after a single fierce bark, the intruder takes off . . .

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And everything goes back to normal at chez George.

What? You were expecting excitement? Please see the disclaimer I have in my header. Thank you very much.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All photos by my husband and were taken with our Nikon D80. Hope your Thursday is a beautiful one, my friends. Thanks for coming by and visiting with me today.

Until tomorrow, then . . .

41 comments:

Marla said...

Awesome set of pictures... I love his border collie eye. My mom has a border collie and he does that exact thing when he's concentrating real hard on something.

Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

YOur husband is becoming quite the shooter! smiles

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

That evil border collie eye is nothing to be messed with. Although the vulture is shooting his best evil carrion-eating bird eye too.

wv: oxisa. Much like garlic repels vampires, the wild oxisa helps ward off the dreaded border collie evil eye.

Nancy Grossi ~ Churned In Cali ~ The Wife of a Dairyman said...

There is always excitment to found when there's a dog on the property! George is beautiful.

Char said...

vultures - we see a lot of them around here but in the culvert behind our house we have a hawk scooping up the field mice.

hope you have a great night

Holly said...

George is a valiant protector. You probably sleep much better at night knowing George is there.

Your Husband is a fine photographer too.

If the memories aren't too painful, we have a new (well he's a month old now) foal at the barn and Noah is featured twice today on my blog.

A New England Life said...

At least you aren't missing all the excitement while you're at work. The days are well documented.

Excellent shots on your husbands part, even if he doesn't want to hear it.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Love George's evil eye and wink at the end. Too cute!

Deb said...

Turkey vultures are scary birds if you ask me. Wait, you didn't!

Gotta love that George!

Unknown said...

I can't get over how handsom your dog is!

Cloudia said...

What a wonderful story you tell.

Heroic George!

In Jamaica they call the turkey vulture: "John Crow."


Aloha from Hawaii my Friend!


Comfort Spiral

suzanna said...

This is so funny! It was a gorgeous day here too.. I love this time of year!

Jen at Cabin Fever said...

It finally stopped raining up here too. We don't have turkey vultures in Vermont, just a ton of turkeys.

I remember probably ten years ago there was an epidemic and over population of turkey vultures on the eastern shore. There were probably eighty (not exaggerating) in my parent's field one day. What a gross, nasty bird.

Brynwood Needleworks said...

Kate:
Your writing is just too darn cute. I love your reference back to your header! :-)

We have vultures all over here in Florida. Actually, we call them "First Responders"...they're always first at a Road Kill Buffet!

Have a safe trip. (George let the cat out of the bag on FB. Who knew he could type so well?)
xoxo
Donna

Alli said...

You tell 'em George - that's YOUR "roof!". I don't know if I've ever seen birds that look the same way those do! Certainly are interesting looking creatures!

myletterstoemily said...

what a fun group of photos!

for some reason, it reminded me
of one of my favorite movies,
"babe."

Rebekah Greiman said...

We just attended a dog show in Tulsa. I think the border collies were my favorite-they were so intense and focused. I immediately thought of you! Maybe someday I too will have a border collie!

Unknown said...

Lovely photos - yucky bird disturbing the poor dog's turf - lol.

Thanks for your comment. If you feel like it, hop on over to my blog. I've been inspired to do a giveaway contest!

jo

www.teensandtriplets.blogspot.com

tainterturtles said...

I am so impressed by your hubby. His photos are great. I love the post today. That last photo of George is so funny....he's all smug!

MaggieGem said...

Love that last picture of George, he looks like he's snickering just like Muttley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZm47SrmuwM

becky up the hill said...

I think that Turkey V. was asking if her butt looked big! George must have said yes sister...so off she went!

Julie Harward said...

Yea for George...the handsome knight and down with the very ugly bird!!! I love George..he is my hero! LOL Come say hi :D

Skogkjerring said...

Great photos, even the ones of the ugly bird...oh how I long for green grass and blue skies, it's snowing, HEAVILY, here today...depressed? That's an understatement...ugh....

Kerri Farley said...

I think George should star in his own children's book!! Great post!

Mary said...

I love the border collie evil eye! :)

Again, great pics -- kudos to your husband!

abb said...

That George is just the best! And I never realized there was more than one kind of buzzard...whoda thunk!

wv: talowel I used my talowel after my shower.

Mental P Mama said...

I hope he got a biscuit after all that hard work!

Dagmar said...

Oh Kate George is too funny. I can totaly see what you mean by putting out these words along with the pics....
Fun day to you all too.

beth said...

I loved the story.....and that george with his bird shoo-ing abilities and that hubby with his camera abilities.....what a team !

Jill of All Trades said...

We have turkey vultures at the lake...yuck...I have always found all vultures creepy after seeing the movie The Red Pony (Steinbeck) when I was a kid. Gave me nightmares. Love the George pics.

The JR said...

George looks like he's quite satisfied with himself!

Carolynn Anctil said...

It looks like George is snickering a little bit in that last photo. Good dog!

Daryl said...

That last shot, George's expression is a la Clint Eastwood: 'make my day, sucker'

Anonymous said...

Our Linus gives the evil border collie eye a lot! love the George pics :)
Manden

Sharmon Davidson said...

George rules!

Wildflower Studio (Michelle Dransart) said...

Too cute, and great photos! What a gorgeous doggy!

Gail said...

I have never seen this type of vulture. Interesting.

Of course George is his usual stunning self.

mrs mediocrity said...

Love that little story....still chuckling!

Sandra Henderson said...

I'm so glad I found your blog! via Jennifer at VTCabinFever... I look forward to catching up on your other posts. Beautiful! Sandra from Cumberland Island, GA

www.cumberlandislandquiltchick.com

Cait O'Connor said...

I have never seen a vulture, don't want to really but I loved the photos. Gorgeous dog, I have a border collie too.

Anonymous said...

Dogs are so tough, aren't they? LOL

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal