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Re: CCT,
The ring-neck doves come by regularly as long as there is seed out. They always keep an eye on me, though, and fly fast if I come too near the door. They ignore Violetta who sits and makes little cat barking noises at them. She does this whenever there are birds in her territory. The other day, as I sat working near the door, two of them consummated their spring romance right there on the rail: 10 seconds of pigeon bliss.
posted by
Ciel
on April 24, 2014 at 6:17 AM
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I suppose each generation of animals become slightly less afraid of humans if they are treated kindly. One can see that in wood pigeons once they would shoot of like crazy when folk shot them for food. Now some of them just sit outside or rest on the bird table. It is quite a coup to get one that tame.
posted by
C_C_T
on April 23, 2014 at 7:13 AM
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Ciel
I have had chipmunks take peanuts from my hand, but never a squirrel! Madame must be a courageous lady...And my lilac doesn't even have leaves yet, let alone budding blossoms...
posted by
Nautikos
on April 22, 2014 at 7:40 PM
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Re: JimmyA,
What I don't like about pretending that animals are like fuzzy or feathered little humans is that some people--kids for example--shape their worldview from these fantasies, and worse, they completely mis-read their pets' communications to them, and that is very bad for everyone.
posted by
Ciel
on April 22, 2014 at 7:21 PM
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Re: Pat,
Actually, I was thinking Madame Cheeky... or Cheeky Madam.
Seems to me that the way we can measure our degree of civilization is by who we include in the concept of 'people.'
posted by
Ciel
on April 22, 2014 at 7:17 PM
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Re: TAPS,
I remember GREEN MANSIONS... That desire for the wilds to regard us and love us... such a human thing, though there is the other extreme, too, that sees nature's family as tools and conveniences and coats.
posted by
Ciel
on April 22, 2014 at 7:15 PM
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So much of our classic literature taps into the subject of human/animal relationships, i.e. The Secret Garden (Dillon) and Green Mansions (Bird Girl) being two of my favorites.
posted by
TAPS.
on April 22, 2014 at 5:44 PM
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I, too, wonder what squirrels think.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on April 22, 2014 at 5:39 PM
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No, I don't think there's anything wrong with 'humanizing' some of these critters. However, I do think that, for the most part, if you weren't offering such tasty morsels, she may not be the 'close friend' she is now . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on April 22, 2014 at 2:23 PM
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There was a program on Channel 9 a few days ago about a man
who moved out to a remote cabin - can't remember if it was Montana or Wyoming - to study mule deer. He would walk out of his house (must have had a camera man along, judging by the photos) and stand there, observing. It took about 2 years for them to accept him as a member of the herd, and he began to know individuals and think of them as people. It's an amazing documentary.
Madame LaDarque - Cheeky LaDarque. That was a surprise to me.
posted by
Pat_B
on April 22, 2014 at 2:16 PM
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i can send you dozens of squirrels if you like 
posted by
Annicita
on April 22, 2014 at 1:00 PM
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Re: Kabu,
Many highly intelligent, self-aware species--elephants, for instance, and Great Apes--have learned to be wary of humans, with good cause. But they have also learned to work with humans under some circumstance. We know now that elephants and chimps both are far more intelligent, and capable of emotional awareness, even altruistic behavior, than we ever guessed, back when we (by which I mean European based 'civilized' cultures) thought we were made superior to all the rest of Creation in every possble way.
posted by
Ciel
on April 22, 2014 at 11:24 AM
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Sadly I think that Dolphins dogs and cats are the only creatures who really want to be around humans. We are just a source of food supply. But Madame trusts you and that is magic.
posted by
Kabu
on April 22, 2014 at 11:11 AM
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