This morning when I took my dog, Glory, for her morning walk we didn't go on our usual route. The Tolt Pipeline cuts through our neighborhood. There is stretch of it that is off the road, That was our destination. Along this 5 block stretch is a ditch big enough to support two Male Red-wings and their wives. There is at least one family of Mallards in it too. Adjacent to the pipeline is a recently cleared construction sight where an apartment building is going to be built. When we got to the construction sight I cut across there to get to the pipeline. Almost immediately two crows started expressing their displeasure at our presence with loud caws. Then I realized it was Glory in particular that they didn't want around. They dive bombed her repeatedly. She ran to what remains of the burnt out shack on the property and sought refuge under it's eaves but the pair of Crows continued to caw at her. When she came out they started the bombardments again , getting as close as inches from her head. She didn't know what to do everywhere she went to escape them , they followed. Finally we crossed the invisible line that marked the edge of their territory, and they retreated to one of the few remaining trees on the construction site.
It was not only crows that we hyper-territorial this morning as we walked down the pipeline I watched one of the Male Blackbird scatter a flock of Starlings that were foraging on the trail. Then he flew by three House Finch who were sitting on "his " telephone wire, and told them to move on. By now a few starlings had returned and he shoed them off again.
On top of a light pole in a nearby parking lot a Flicker was drumming away , either declaring his territory or trying to attract a mate.
On our return we passed a Crow who had decided to perch on the other Blackbird's Light standard. The Blackbird dove at him, just as the crow had done to Glory, but the crow was pretty determined to stay put, he only flew away to join a couple of his buddies who were chasing a Cooper's Hawk . When we got back to the construction site, Glory was once again reminded she wasn't welcome.

Linda Phillips
Kenmore 98028-2616
linda_phillips1252 at msn.com<mailto:linda_phillips1252 at msn.com>