Saturday 4 April 2015

Womens' Lib.

In the Spring a young man's fancy
lightly turns to things he's been
thinking about all Winter.

to misquote the poet.

A perfect instance, witnessed by the farmer, occurred today just outside the kitchen window.   We feed the pheasants on poultry wheat and, as usual there were about a dozen hen pheasants and just one cock pheasant, feeding there this morning.

Suddenly the cock jumped at one of the hens and grabbed her by the back of the neck, obviously intent upon mating with her.  She  squawked loudly and immediately two of her hen friends jumped at the cock and fought him off.   He ran off up the grass quick as a flash.   A perfect example of female solidarity I thought and a sign that womens' lib has spread to the bird world.

12 comments:

Heather said...

There is a time and place for everything and outside someone's kitchen window is certainly not the place! Pigeons are very amorous and seem to have the mating instinct all year round. They chase each other up and down our roof and our daughter tells the male: 'Leave her alone, she's not interested'.

A Heron's View said...

Female Lib may be but it doesn't do a quack for pheasant frustration, I mean it's not like a cock can take himself in hand !

Joanne Noragon said...

We kept a finch as a pet when my children were young. The female raised several broods. She outlived several male finches; when she was not in the mood the male learned to stay far away or suffer a fatal attack.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Heron's comment was much appreciated by the farmer!!

Pondside said...

Hmmmmm I think the avian world was onto this long before our species!

angryparsnip said...

All I can say is that there is a time and place for everything. And at dinner was not the place !

cheers, parsnip

Rachel Phillips said...

The cats have been stalking hen pheasants for days outside my window. One was being plucked and eaten at the same time in the kitchen this morning when I got up. The cock was nowhere to be seen.

The Bug said...

My husband & I are laughing at this whole exchange - and Heron's comment - ha!

Gwil W said...

I observe the behaviour of mallard ducks on the pond in the park. I have come to the conclusion that most of the 'boys' are homosexual.

Frances said...

Ahh spring is definitely in the air.

Happy Easter to you!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for calling in everyone.

Cloudia said...

Slice of life, LOL