Monday 18 June 2007

R.I.P young nuthatch

Sometimes I hate my cats. I know they only do what comes naturally, and they are fabulous rodent catchers. But today I found the newly fledged nuthatch dead and bedraggled from a mumbling in the cat's mouth. I suspect the only reason it hadn't been eaten was a surfeit of mouse earlier in the day. If the young great spotted woodpecker goes the same way I might not be held responsible for my actions.

4 comments:

mountainear said...

I always feel so priveledged to see nuthatches - love their slatey sleekness. A young one flew into the glass of our garden room at the weekend and sadly died. Not a good weekend for nuthatches.....

Speak severely to your cat - but it's only doing what cat's do.

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

Agree with Mountainear - it's what comes naturally, even though we'd rather they didn't.

The wheel of life and all that...

Hugs though...

Penny Pincher said...

I know - it's horrible but cat's favourite past time etc.
Do you think us cat lovers should set up a company to rival Whiskas and Felix etc.? We should sell bird and mouse flavoured foods? I've never yet seen a cat drag home a lamb, beef or trout throught the catflap - but I did hear once of a neighbours cat struggling to get a rabbit through the flap.

Mopsa said...

I know, I know, but why couldn't they have snatched one of the many many blue tits? They breed like rabbits (yes, I know, odd comparison), but there is just one baby nuthatch a year.....from one breeding pair. :( Thanks for the hugs and thoughts. Really sad day yesterday.