Outdoors with Don Q: Good news for some is bad news for others

We have a small, comfortable home, built in the late 1940's, located in the older west side of Carson City, and we recently discovered that what is considered good news for some is actually bad news for others in our particular neighborhood. Let me explain what I mean:

01. Good news for the mule deer:
There are many mule deer in our part of the community who have apparently discovered that it is a good life, living here full-time, rather than up in the mountains, because of the sheer abundance of easily accessible and tasty bushes, plants, flower beds and vegetable gardens.
Geez, why work for your food when it is there just for the taking.
And best of all, they don't have to worry about their natural predators like black bear, mountain lions, bobcats and coyotes; plus hunters during the hunt seasons.
The mule deer are scattered all over the west side and apparently have adjusted very nicely to being full-time residents in the city.
Sigh, you can always tell if they have visited your west side front yard or back yard or both by the missing plants, flowers and veggies. Plus they also leave their tracks and "calling cards" in the areas where they have dined on your offerings.
They are not necessarily tidy eaters, that's for darn sure.

02: Bad news for the mule deer:
For your information, Elaine, who loves to watch them and to take their photos in Carson City or at the Quilici Cabin near Davis Lake, California or at many different mountain locations, is not a happy camper. And, when she's not happy, no one is happy, especially deer!
We recently created five brand new flower beds in our front yard and Elaine spent hours and hours (plus lots of money) planting all kinds of gorgeous flowers.

The other morning, she went out to check on her flower beds and discovered that sometime during the night, a visitor had eaten all of her Pansies which were growing in a large pot in one of the flower beds.
Plus that same visitor had put a big "hurt" on flowers in that flower bed and in another flower bed.

To add insult to injury, that visitor had left his or her "calling cards" in two different places on our brand new lawn.
She mumbled some very bad words and said she was going to get even with that deer, whatever that meant. I was afraid to ask.

Not being dumb, I stayed out of her way while she replanted the missing flowers. I have a hunch that if that visitor returns and Elaine sees it, that deer will be chased down the street by an angry lady with a kitchen broom.

03. Good news for the neighborhood flower beds and vegetable gardens:
A pair of Cooper's Hawks have built a nest and are raising their young in a nest in a large elm tree across the street from our home.
I'm not an expert on identifying hawks, someone told us that they are Cooper's Hawks, so that is what I am relaying to you.

Before the hawks arrived, many quail would eat our neighborhood's flowers and vegetables, while lots of pigeons would constantly be noisy and messy. Not anymore. They are all almost completely gone. Yahoo!
The quail, pigeon and other birds are very noticeable by their absence, except when we find scattered feathers (and even a couple of leg bones) on our front yards.

Our flower beds and vegetable gardens are intact and doing nicely, while peace and quiet have returned with the birds gone. Life is good for us. I have learned to be a hawk lover.

04. Bad news for the neighbor's black cat:
That poor cat has become the target of the two adult hawks and whenever it ventures outside, they dive bomb it.
When they swoop down, they attack it and have even knocked it sideways with their aerial attacks.
I believe that poor cat has developed an inferiority complex, as it is extremely reluctant to venture outside, and when it does, it is constantly looking skyward.
I used to watch it sneak up and pounce on unsuspecting song birds in bushes, but not anymore. Now, it quickly scurries around while always looking up.
Geez, how in the heck can a cat be afraid of a bird? Well, this "Fraidy Cat" is!

Finally:
Elaine and I always thought that our immediate neighborhood was very special, but based on what happened lately, it is more than very special, it is unique!
So, is there anything unique happening in your neck of the woods?

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you what makes our house so special.
If he grins and says, "Weather permitting, the "Q's have afternoon cocktails on their front porch, every day at 4:00 when they are home," he could be one of the many neighbors, friends or relatives who have joined us there.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. Don's wife, Elaine, is the official Outdoor photographer. They live in Carson City and can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com.

Photo Captions for Feature Story

Photo No. 01:
One of Elaine's five, brand new flower beds.
Photo by Don Quilici

Photo No. 02:
Another flower bed prior to a "midnight visitor."
Photo by Don Quilici

Photo No. 03:
These flowers were spared by the deer.
Photo by Don Quilici

Photo No. 04:
Could this be the hungry visitor?
Photo by Elaine Quilici

Photo No. 05:
A Cooper's Hawk stands by a bird's leg bone.
Photo by Elaine Quilici

Photo No. 06:
Taking a bath.
Photo by Elaine Quilici

Photo No. 07:
Watching for food.
Photo by Elaine Quilici

Photo No. 08:
Another hawk waiting for dinner.
Photo by Elaine Quilici

Photo No. 09:
Aha! I think I've got dinner spotted.
Photo by Elaine Quilici

Photo No. 10:
Hey junior, you're looking the wrong direction!
Photo by Elaine Quilici