My little monitors do a fine job in the school grounds, bird feeding, litter picking and recycling etc. They keep an eye on everything from the birds, the frogs and the worms.
Well today, two of the children got a good close up of natural selection, right under their noses.
They had come to me concerned about the condition of a pigeon they had discovered in a less than healthy state. So I went along to see what I could do.(My usual task is to collect and place the birds in a nearby bush, letting nature take it's course....I can't dispatch I'm afraid).
There it was,on the slope of grass, not looking too bad and a least able to walk. So I approached it slowly, explaining the the children that sometimes in nature, some birds are not strong enough to survive and that it is best that the fit and strong birds breed, passing on good genes and keeping a stock of healthy robust birds. I was trying to let them know how nature is 'cruel to be kind'....telling them gently, letting them understand. Then BANG, just as I was bending to retrieve the bird, from the right, the mother of all cats from hell, tore out across the grass, all claws and teeth and seized the unfortunate bird, about 2 foot away from us!
It clobbered the pigeon down onto the ground sinking it's claws and teeth deeply into the bird and growling in it's throat, eyes as big as saucers.
The children gasped and I nearly said a regrettable word but luckily it caught in my throat(no....not in front of the children!!) just in time!!
There you are, I said calmly. Natural selection right in front of you!!! Wasn't that amazing! The lads were a bit shaken up at seeing it THAT close but talk about backing up your words with actions!
Nowt like seeing nature in the raw I suppose.
****** cat!
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