Cyn's Nature Notes: The Emperor and His Son

Wednesday 23 February 2011

The Emperor and His Son

The two male pheasants seem to have spent the winter keeping each other company. Most days they turn up together at regular intervals to be fed. If they aren't noticed waiting by the side kitchen window they hurry along to the patio windows. Once there, if they are still not noticed, the younger one will climb on the step and stand with his beak against the glass or just settle down on the step, patiently waiting to be noticed. His father "the emperor" is not half as patient; he will strut from the kitchen window to the patio doors where he will rise up on tiptoe, flap his wings and loudly crow. This of course brings the attention straight to him and as soon as he sees a movement from within, he scurries back to the kitchen window as fast as he can, anxious to be first and not to miss anything.

Today was much the same, except as they finished feeding and wandered away across the lawn, the emperor turned on his son, and fluffing his feathers out and dropping the wing facing his son, then lowering his head, he slowly advanced, with a sideways motion, toward his son, who immediately backed away. The emperor resumed a normal posture and moved to where his son was standing, once again he adopted the "aggressive" stance and again the youngster retreated. This behaviour continued until the older one had driven his son far away.

This gentle aggression is a sure sign that it is mating time. The first time it happened the younger pheasant appeared not to understand, with the unfortunate circumstance that he became a victim of much stronger aggressive behaviour and feathers flew. Now he understands and makes himself scarce!

We occasionally have other male pheasants wander into the garden, but no mercy is given and the older pheasant instantly becomes very territorial at any time of the year, flying at them and attacking them with no or very little warning.

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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.