One of the things I like least about cats is that they are little killers. Mollie regularly brings lizards into the house, either previously killed or saved for later killing. Chloe brought a young squirrel onto the front porch, which after allowing it to age a little, she began to eat from the head down. Sylvester has brought several killed animals into the garage. This is what he brought us Tuesday.
It’s a black and white warbler. They are ground nesters, which probably explains how Sylvester found and killed it.
I know that cats are hunters and killers by nature; it’s what they do. I still don’t like it. The cats are lucky Leah is here.
I am not a birder, so I had to look this bird up. Cornell University has some nice resources for bird information. I found some audio files for the pileated woodpeckers we have around here. Now they have an app for identifying birds from photographs. I had already figured out that the bird was a black and white warbler, but I downloaded the app and the bird database for the Southeast to recheck.
On a more pleasant note, I saw some tiny flowers on my morning dog walk.
It looks kind of like the Milky Way.
These are bluets. I see them fairly often around the mountain, but this was a large enough patch that it caught my eye from a distance. They can be propagated from seed or by transplanting. I think I’ll try to bring some into our yard somewhere.
And, on the pain and suffering front, I had pre-op visits to my orthopedic surgeon and the hospital on Tuesday. I am scheduled for rotator cuff repair Friday morning. I have mentioned this to a few people, and everyone who has had rotator cuff repair has warned me that it’s the worst, very painful. I had my left rotator cuff repaired about 11 or 12 years ago. As I recall, it was not particularly painful. I needed pain medication for a couple of nights immediately after surgery, but after that, even the physical therapy was not bad. I hope to repeat that experience with my right shoulder.
Unfortunately for me, I am right handed, so hanging my right arm from a sling for weeks is going to be an inconvenience. Leah and I have not figured out yet how the dogs are going to get their walks. Zoe is a real plow horse on our walks, and Sam likes to tie me up with his leash by walking circles around me. Neither of those is a good fit for someone with a healing shoulder injury.
I’m sure everything will work out just fine. One way or another.
It’s always such a bummer when the cats are out killing wildlife. Cats are responsible for so many bird deaths. It’s heartbreaking. Our neighbors put a collar with a bell on their cat so it gives a bit of a warning when it’s out there.
Hope all goes well with your surgery. We’ll be thinking of you!
Robin — we have collars and tags on some of the cats, but the outdoor cats always lose their collars. and, unfortunately, the baby birds can’t fly when they leave the nest.