The Blackbird War
Learning to live with those around us44 total reviews
Comment from lyenochka
Oh my! Your property sounds beautiful and you and Cindy have extra special energy to work so hard on that garden but those critters are now dependent on you for their food supply! We have deer and I have just given up on growing produce. I even chop up my apple cores and leave them for all the birds and squirrels and deer. Enjoyed your account of these wars with wildlife. Best wishes in the contest!
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Oh my! Your property sounds beautiful and you and Cindy have extra special energy to work so hard on that garden but those critters are now dependent on you for their food supply! We have deer and I have just given up on growing produce. I even chop up my apple cores and leave them for all the birds and squirrels and deer. Enjoyed your account of these wars with wildlife. Best wishes in the contest!
Comment Written 14-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you. The blackbirds came back yesterday, and the war has resumed. My niece really hates those black buggers. I do love the way they will sometimes all flock to a tree and sing their hearts out. They are not a pretty bird, but they do sing some lovely bird songs.
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Sorry about the headache with the birds. Are these the red-winged type? I do love those songs. And the do flock together A LOT!
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Yes, they are red-winged blackbirds. They do sing beautifully even if they are pests.
Comment from jmdg1954
You named your story appropriately. Wow. One ordeal after another for your gardens growth. But you maintained and sustained through it and were able to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Best of luck in the contest and as well with the 2023 crops.
John
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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You named your story appropriately. Wow. One ordeal after another for your gardens growth. But you maintained and sustained through it and were able to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Best of luck in the contest and as well with the 2023 crops.
John
Comment Written 14-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you. The blackbirds just returned, and the war has resumed. My niece is becoming a pretty good shot with her water bombs. Lol
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
Well, you really did have a plethora of annoying visitors didn't you? I think I would have been driven to move house if I had had so much nuisance factor to live with. It's all too much for me to contemplate. kay
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Well, you really did have a plethora of annoying visitors didn't you? I think I would have been driven to move house if I had had so much nuisance factor to live with. It's all too much for me to contemplate. kay
Comment Written 14-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you. I have lived in the country my whole life. I can recall my father's battle with deer and foxes on his fruit farm. The deer liked the apple orchards, and the foxes would steal the chickens if they got a chance.
Comment from mermaids
I enjoyed reading your story because I also enjoy the wildlife near my house. Was the bear a black bear? We actually had a black bear a few years ago on Cape Cod. I admire your persistence with maintaining your garden despite the various critters that keep coming to feast. Excellent writing here and a perfect entry for this contest.
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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I enjoyed reading your story because I also enjoy the wildlife near my house. Was the bear a black bear? We actually had a black bear a few years ago on Cape Cod. I admire your persistence with maintaining your garden despite the various critters that keep coming to feast. Excellent writing here and a perfect entry for this contest.
Comment Written 14-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you. Yes, we didn't used to have black bears around here, but they have moved in our area the last few years. Now, it is quite common to have one run across the road in front of one's car. I think they still come into the yard after dark, but I haven't seen any since the first one.
Comment from LJbutterfly
Growing up in a big city, I realized as I read this story, how many times I would have been defeated by wildlife. After the bear, my new house would have been up for sale.
You added mystery and suspense to the story by first describing the damage done by the predator, and then revealing the culprit and action you took to eliminate the problem. You made this really enjoyable. Best wishes in the contest.
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Growing up in a big city, I realized as I read this story, how many times I would have been defeated by wildlife. After the bear, my new house would have been up for sale.
You added mystery and suspense to the story by first describing the damage done by the predator, and then revealing the culprit and action you took to eliminate the problem. You made this really enjoyable. Best wishes in the contest.
Comment Written 14-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you. All I wrote is true. I'm hoping we have better luck this year. Actually we are the trespassers as we live in their territory. Lol
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. I enjoyed reading and completely understand. We've had issues with all critters except the bear. My husband has a fence around his peach trees. Good luck with the contest.
In the spring of 2021, my niece Cindy and I were looking forward to the first summer in our new home. (comma after 'niece')
I yelled. "Where is the critter? (comma after 'yelled' and I think it this situation it would be 'Where's')
I suppose that could e considered a victory, (could be??)
I watched them closely and one night decided they would be ready to pick the next morning. (the following morning)
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. I enjoyed reading and completely understand. We've had issues with all critters except the bear. My husband has a fence around his peach trees. Good luck with the contest.
In the spring of 2021, my niece Cindy and I were looking forward to the first summer in our new home. (comma after 'niece')
I yelled. "Where is the critter? (comma after 'yelled' and I think it this situation it would be 'Where's')
I suppose that could e considered a victory, (could be??)
I watched them closely and one night decided they would be ready to pick the next morning. (the following morning)
Comment Written 14-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you. I can always rely on you to point out my oops! I wrote this late yesterday when I was tired and I didn't take the time to read it over like I usually do. Thanks again. I will edit and correct.
Comment from estory
I enjoyed your story, written with plenty of personality that made your emotions come alive in the telling. Gardening here in the south, in North Carolina, I sympathize 100%. I looked forward to gardening down here, but quickly discovered that it would be very frustrating. You have to deal with poor soil, poor drainage, too cold, too hot, too much rain, too little, and all kinds of the same critters you mention. But you forgot to mention voles. Voles ate my dianthus, got into my dahlias, ate my hollyhocks, my rudbekia, and all you can do is put down seed soaked in caster oil which works for a few months until they come back. The deer are bad too. They ate my lilies, my camelia, my euronymus. estory
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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I enjoyed your story, written with plenty of personality that made your emotions come alive in the telling. Gardening here in the south, in North Carolina, I sympathize 100%. I looked forward to gardening down here, but quickly discovered that it would be very frustrating. You have to deal with poor soil, poor drainage, too cold, too hot, too much rain, too little, and all kinds of the same critters you mention. But you forgot to mention voles. Voles ate my dianthus, got into my dahlias, ate my hollyhocks, my rudbekia, and all you can do is put down seed soaked in caster oil which works for a few months until they come back. The deer are bad too. They ate my lilies, my camelia, my euronymus. estory
Comment Written 14-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you, and thanks for the six stars. It sounds like you have a lot of critter problems too. I live in Michigan, and we are surrounded by all kinds of wildlife. It does make it difficult to grow floweres or a garden.
Comment from Jim Wile
This was a wonderful story of your trials and tribulations with the wildlife. So realistic and reminiscent of my own troubles with mostly deer when I had a nice yard and garden back in Michigan. We spent several hundred dollars and many hours each year attempting to repel the deer. It can be frustrating, but the beautiful sight of animals in nature somewhat offsets their peskiness as you point out.
This was well-written and amusing. Great job, PBB! Jim
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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This was a wonderful story of your trials and tribulations with the wildlife. So realistic and reminiscent of my own troubles with mostly deer when I had a nice yard and garden back in Michigan. We spent several hundred dollars and many hours each year attempting to repel the deer. It can be frustrating, but the beautiful sight of animals in nature somewhat offsets their peskiness as you point out.
This was well-written and amusing. Great job, PBB! Jim
Comment Written 14-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you. It's nice to know someone else appreciates the problems we Michiganders face. The coons are the ones that make our life the most difficult.
Comment from Terry Broxson
You have written a wonderful story about the adventures of growing a garden with contending with the wildlife. The story is rich with detail, and while frustrating for you and Cindy, it was fun for your readers. An excellent entry for this contest, best wishes. Terry.
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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You have written a wonderful story about the adventures of growing a garden with contending with the wildlife. The story is rich with detail, and while frustrating for you and Cindy, it was fun for your readers. An excellent entry for this contest, best wishes. Terry.
Comment Written 14-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you. At least life isn't boring with all this wildlife around us. I only wish the coons would go somewhere else. They are our larget problem.
Comment from Sanku
I loved reading this .Wildlife all around you! Though they can be best and make us do a lot of work .It is a pleasant feeling that we can coexist with the other animals .Thanks for sharing
which place is this?
Fifth para 'y' is missing from 'My' 'Third para from the last -last sentence-they are not vegetarians
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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I loved reading this .Wildlife all around you! Though they can be best and make us do a lot of work .It is a pleasant feeling that we can coexist with the other animals .Thanks for sharing
which place is this?
Fifth para 'y' is missing from 'My' 'Third para from the last -last sentence-they are not vegetarians
Comment Written 14-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2023
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Thank you and thanks for catching my oops. I usually read these stories after I post them. It was late last night, and I was tired--therefore the oops! Thanks again, I will edit and correct.
