Glancing through my kitchen window I was startled to see a furry tailed fuzzy
brown-haired creature jerkily moving across my concrete driveway. I could see an oval-shaped green object twice
as large as the animal’s head preceding the creature’s halting steps. Closer examination revealed a squirrel
clinching in its mouth an avocado. I didn’t
even know squirrels liked avocados.
This rodent made halting movements toward the red flowering geranium bed
growing by my front door entryway.
Suddenly, a flash of low-flying gray feathers with a flick of white and a
long tail landed on the driveway only a couple feet from the squirrel. This mockingbird’s less colorful female
companion soon landed nearby to join her partner in the harassing-sounding
chatter that was clearly directed at the squirrel.
Undeterred the squirrel persisted in dragging the huge avocado closer to my
home’s brick entryway. Those geranium leaf covered vines overflowing in the colorful flowered bed next to the walkway were soon revealed to be the squirrel's destination. The animal’s final effort resulted in a
forward lurch with the sudden dropping of the avocado down into the lush green
leaves which quickly hid this dark green treasure once the parted leaves closed
over what had been hastily selected to be a secret hiding place.
I was relieved that no neighborhood felines prone to stalking were in sight
since my favored mockingbird couple was now fluttering about almost at ground
level. They were obviously alarmed with
the intrusion of this uninvited visitor into an area these birds apparently
considered their own. They were
carefully observing the whole process, including the location of what had
become the squirrel’s avocado vault. His
deposit completed, the warily alert squirrel sat upright on his haunches,
frozen momentarily, then with his bushy tail flitting behind, scurried across
my driveway to seek seclusion underneath my auto.
I was entranced with this whole brief escapade, curious to know if there
would be further resolution. The
mockingbirds flew upward into a nearby tree, suggesting that they had
selected my home and yard as their territory.
The squirrel remained out of my sight. Continuing to survey the area, I observed no further
activity. Finally, I decided I needed to
devote myself to other matters and reluctantly left my window view.
Considerable time passed before I returned to gaze out my window. No creatures in view. Stepping outside I cautiously and carefully
investigated the area where I had seen the squirrel hide the avocado. No avocado to be seen! No squirrel in sight as I visually surveyed
the area. No mockingbirds observed in
the surrounding trees.
I’m disappointingly reconciled to the realization that I will never know
what happened to that avocado. Surely the mockingbirds would not have speared
it with one of their beaks, much less be able to transport such weight in flight. If any sneaky crows were watching they might
brazenly have had the capability of requisitioning the avocado, but I hadn’t
heard any of their raucous calls. The mockingbirds would have dive-bombed the crows causing loud protestations had those large black birds intruded on the scene.
Opossums, raccoons, coyotes, bears, mountain lions likely were not out
and about during these early afternoon daylight hours.
Other squirrels? I hadn’t seen
any, but I don’t know. Is there honor
among squirrels even if they did spy on the avocado affair?
I like
to think the squirrel I observed returned and spirited away his treasure. Yet, I do wonder, if there were other
creatures observing that I hadn’t noticed who might have taken the avocado for
their own?
Hope you’re not disappointed after reading the above since this tale is for
the birds, as I would be the first to admit. The only nut, as so frequently associated with
squirrels, is this writer -- at least in this tale.
Remember this song from many years ago which was considered a pop tune
played on practically every radio station? The
original early 1950s recording by The Pinetoppers, along with information reported to be from a family member about
the composer brothers and others, can be viewed on YouTube at the link that follows though the video has been withdrawn from sharing through embedding. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF8ThtYYvmg
“Mockin’ Bird Hill” was eventually categorized as country music, becoming
commercially popular, especially when Patti Page recorded the tune.
