You’re braver than you believe, and stronger and smarter than you think. (Winnie the Pooh)
Over the summer and fall, our guineas have disappeared one by one until, once again, only one is left. He tends to spend his time close to the house or the garden cottage, rather forlornly hunkering down in the boxwood-and-gold-ball-decorated window boxes, pecking at the gold balls, in which I think he sees his reflection. Since they are such communal birds, perhaps he is hoping that the other guinea he sees there in that reflection will emerge to keep him company.
However, last evening as I saw the shadow of a very large bird pass overhead, and saw Mr. Guinea dart for cover on the front porch, I suspected that he is very aware of what happened to the previous members of his flock, and I wondered if it is a hawk or owl who has fed so well this summer.
I’m rooting, of course, for Mr. Guinea, and will do all I can to help him survive, although I’m aware the owl and hawk gotta survive, too. (But, hey, there’s a lot of field mice out there). It’ll be a battle of bird wits, and we’ll see who turns out to be the wiliest.
