|
Yup, Kelly the yellowbilled kite really does only like beef ...
With the a return of the kites for summer in September we found one kite in particular would roost in the trees next to the dojo and call, and call, and call. It was really as though she (we've just decided she must be a female - they are, after all, the better communicators) was trying to tell us something, and our interpretation of that something was FEED ME.
So Bob and I went off the the butchery section of the supermarket for the first time in years - what an unpleasant experience, but some meat was selected (reduced price bulk tenderised steak), which was duly cut into chunks and presented under the tree on a little metal table that goes with the metal bench I was given as a present one birthday.
It was not too long before Kelly the Kite was comfortable to fly on past and collect some tenderised steak from the table - and soon took to calling her mate to join her. He is the less accomplished flyer and will occasionally miss his targeted piece, but will do a second flyby if necessary.
I allowed Kelly the Kite to establish a routine that sort of hurts my pocket - demand feeding a kite meat can get to be an expensive habit - she comes to the tree and calls out if she's wanting food. If she finds I'm not responsive she will find a spot in the tree as close to the door as possible to make sure that I hear her calls.
It had become an almost predictable routine, until the shop I went to was out of suitable beef (hey, there is a limit to anybody's kite feeding budget) and the menu changed to lamb riblets and boerewors. Oh boy, was that not the thing to offer Kelly the Kite! Although the food was eventually taken with great reluctance, the calls for food stopped almost instantly and food would be left for so long that it fell to crows and other hopefuls. I wasn't sure if she was getting broody and due to lay eggs or something, that she seemed so moody, until the stock of ribs and wors were used up and replaced with beef.
Almost instantly it was back to demand feeding as before; a definite preference in diet - Kelly the Kite definitely does like beef. Shaz still does not like shopping for dead animal parts; but some butcheries feel less oppressive and unpleasant than others.
Bob at least half-feels that this particular kite is a kind of incarnation of PAWS and has taken to her with a fondness in that sort of way. I can't help wonder what PAWS would like to do to that bird - after years of Eukaneuba for PAWS a pesky bird flies in and after a few well timed screeches gets tenderised steak on the menu. If her spirit has not come back to visit us in the form of Kelly the Kite, she must surely be trying to nip our ankles as we walk past each day!
|
