Merchandise and Food Shortages in a National Crisis

[Bally002]

Nice comment.  Spring is the better time for birds at night here, the Pheasant Coucal with it's continuous 'woop woop'  mating call going all night, owls, wagtails, plovers and other life in the trees.  Goes throughout summer too but this year with never ending rain very little is heard.
The Butcher birds, Magpies, Satin Bower birds and parrots still meet us each morning on the back verandah (drying off) for a feed and later in the day.  Lately there's a lot and fights start and we laugh when we watch the top tier birds chase the others away and the minors swoop in for a quick pick.  It doesn't end there though as the crows take to the smaller birds in flight carrying a bit of food attempting to make them drop it and so it continues for about an hour.  Of course the chooks and goose patrol the ground and scavenge up the crumbs and the pecking order goes on in that dimension.
During the day the Butcher birds and Kookaburras follow us as we split wood, perch on the periphery, and go for the grubs and wood insects as each log is split open.  Some good sights at times.  The birds alert us to any snakes and lizards nearby when they change their tones and dive at the reptiles location.  
One sight I saw, which I think maybe unusual, was when a Peregrine Falcon hit the large white goose in the back yard.  White feathers everywhere but the old goose just got up, flapped and hissed.  The falcon flew up onto the roof guttering shaking it's head looking dazed.  I am not sure of a falcon's perspective and I know they are fast but attacking another bird perhaps three times it's size may me wonder how the 'F' it would carry the goose away.  The were several chickens about at the time which would have made easier targets.  Anyway the falcon then flew up into a tree, meanwhile the chickens huddled under the house but the old goose just continued on as if nothing had happened.
Another sight is the flocks of wood ducks on the property.  Have never seen so many.  They cover the yard and dams at times.  Might be the wet weather.  Lots of little ones hatching.  Making me think I'll restock the dams with fish and yabbies.  
Kind regards,
Bally :)

Not to derail MSB's thread, but your post reminded me of the time, about twenty years ago. I was on the back porch, talking to the water guy. I was pointing to where the well is, when all of the sudden this hawk swooped down and tried to pluck a squirrel from the side of a tree. The tree was right behind the well, so we got a grand view of the whole thing.

He was either young, had poor sight, gauged wrong, or was drunk. He caught the squirrel, but it got away, after he knocked himself out by hitting the tree. He was out for only a couple of seconds, and flew off, minus one squirrel, dazed, and with a headache.

I always smile when people talk about how quiet it as to be living in the woods. They have obviously never spent any time in the woods, because quiet it is not. The only time it is quiet is when danger is around.

When it rains the fifty different varieties of frogs hold a concert, and they battle for the title of "The Finest Frog Group In The Woods".

It is loud, Damn loud.

I don't think you are derailing.  It's important in my thoughts that if your have the apex predators and substantial food sources provided for them, in the environment, then you are surrounded by a healthy habitat which tends to lead itself to survival and sustainability.  

I am not a nature freak and will quite happily cut out a big hardwood tree if it suits me but I don't waste it.  I can adjust if food gets short and will set traps (illegal here) and cull out the ducks if the larder got low.  I am partial to wildlife flavors especially rabbit.  (few and far between here).  Will eat yabbies, eel and fish from the dams and creek and if it came down to it would certainly take out a kangaroo, potaroo or wallaby if needs be. Partial to a bit of goanna and python.

There is some edible native vegetation  and of course my sad veg garden.  I can thank my long dead dad for teaching me these basic skills which you can fall back into if it got that way like the depression before WW2.  It's a pity I couldn't teach my children these needs as it is not permitted in the stricter sense.  Most wildlife is protected but I can get away with it out here.  They are all 'growed' up now but they know how to cut wood, haul water, grow plants and cook.  And surprise, they will travel a ways to return to the selection (farm) for a break and get back into a little work around the place.  

If the SHTF, well we'll see maybe, then I reckon, with the resources here we'll manage for a while and nature is a part of that.  The birds and bees are a good indication.

Again,

My thoughts and kind regards,

Bally :)