WHO is Out There?

Last night we were trying to get through the rest of a TV show episode we were streaming on Hulu before bedtime when I heard our ducks quacking outside. I paused the TV for a better listen. Sure enough, Aslan, who was inside (downstairs), also heard them and let out one of his barks alerting us that he knew something was up outside that should probably be investigated.

Usually, it's a clear sign there is a potential predator in the vicinity when all your ducks stand up like bowling pins!

Sam let Aslan outside while looking around the surrounding area with the spot light, but she couldn't see any other signs of unwelcome visitors. Lately, we've had coyotes making an appearance on our property, so that is currently our usual first guess.

The air also had a particular eeriness about it. Earlier in the day the skies had finally cleared up from the smokey wildfire apocalyptic haze we had been experiencing for the last week or more. Now suddenly, this evening, thick smoke had rolled back in again with the winds. I considered the ducks could just be feeling a bit edgy by the strange weather patterns. 

After Sam came back in and I heard the ducks still announcing their general unsettlement, I grabbed the light and tried to peer out the window myself. I spotted something perched on the fence down below, several feet from the ducks' enclosure. "It's an owl!" I exclaimed, with a hint of excitement in my voice. I grabbed my phone and hurried down to the front porch, hoping I could get close enough to capture it on (digital) film before my presence might scare it off. 

For the most part owls likely aren't a real predatory threat for most of our animals. They are probably more interested in mice, rats, moles, etc. Our youngest (i.e. smallest) birds aren't yet free ranging unattended outside their enclosure. Currently everyone was locked up securely for the night, anyway. I didn't envision an owl taking the time to try its hand at breaking and entering. However, this doesn't mean the ducks themselves didn't have a right to feel a bit agitated and uncertain about this silent nighttime visitor. 

Here are a few photos I was able to snap. It looks like it was a Barred Owl (determined after I later Googled it). I was so enamored by the absolute and exquisite beauty of this creature. I believe some of that perceived beauty is likely enhanced by the certain mystique that comes from often remaining hidden from human sight under cover of night. 

I am so pleased the photos turned out in spite of being taken at night, in the dark! (Taken with the Google Pixel 2 for anyone who may be wondering...) I was also able to capture some video so that you'll be able to witness some of the owl's actual movement. Be sure to watch for the part where it flies over to land on another portion of the fence if you'd like to see it in flight. Otherwise, just watching the head turns and bobs and tilts is both adorable and awesome. 

Finally, here are a couple of shots I captured of the moon above our woods on this smokey, windy night:

Just another night here at Pure Amusement Farm -- where there is always something going on!

Aslan to the Eagle: Not on MY Watch!

Although bald eagles are without question a strikingly majestic and beautiful bird, they are also a very real predatory threat to many of our residents. Ducks, chickens, our cats...even some of our dogs are unsafe left unattended outdoors! That is why we got Aslan. Our Livestock Guardian Dog, Azzie, has proven his life-saving skills on more than several occasions!

Just this morning one of our security cameras alerted me that an eagle had just swooped in and landed in our tall oak trees that overlook the chicken and duck pens. What a relief to see Aslan immediately burst into the scene from the side yard! Barking and barking and barking and barking! He made it clear the eagle needed to take a hike.

Here's the footage:

If you have the sound turned on you might hear the cacophony of barking dogs, hollering ducks and chickens, and even our inside parrots calling out. Everyone finds it quite unsettling when an eagle is on the premises!

I edited out the middle stretch of Aslan's relentless barking. Here's the end of the footage when Aslan finally convinced the eagle his efforts were going to be futile and he might as well move along:

Good boy, Azzie! Good boy! (He LOVES to hear what a good boy he is!!)

A Guardian Meets his New Charges.

Now that our little magpie ducklings are getting bigger we are trying to get them some more time outside in the sun. Vitamin D is healthy for everyone!

During yesterday's field trip excursion to the backyard pool, we also let Aslan out to meet his newest little charges. We had him on a leash just to be on the safe side, since we weren't entirely sure how he might react to them. I'm so proud to report he did GREAT!! Although we are still a little cautious until he proves himself...he seems to be quite enamored with the baby ducks and eager to keep watch over them. We are elated, because we can definitely use an extra babysitter around here!

Here are some video clips and photos from yesterday's introduction. After some pool time fun, we then put them in a clean tub in the sun so they could preen and dry off before going back inside.

Baby poultry are A LOT of work, but the cuteness factor sure helps make it all worthwhile!! 

Aslan the Working Dog -- Some Glamour Shots

This year we decided to try to enter Aslan's photos in a contest for inclusion in the National Anatolian Shepherd Rescue Network's (NASRN) 2019 Calendar. Here are some of the photos I selected for submission:

We'll  be sure to post an update if Aslan makes it into the calendar! You can see a sample of last year's calendar at this link. Proceeds for the calendar are used by this nonprofit organization to help support the rescue of Anatolian Shepherd Dogs and mixes from possible euthanasia in animal shelters.

Aslan is a livestock guardian dog -- a mix of two Turkish breeds with a long history of protecting livestock: Anatolian Shepherd and Akbash. Here's a little bit of history about the Anatolian Shepherd, and some history about the Akbash breed. Also, here is a cool Jack Hanna/David Letterman video clip that includes an Anatolian Shepherd Dog (ASD). In Namibia there is a Livestock Guardian Dog Program being used in conservation efforts to protect cheetahs. In this clip the ASD and cheetah have been raised together so they can be used for educational efforts to help get the word out about this important program. In the wild, the ASD's are used by farmers to protect their livestock FROM the cheetah and other predators. These efforts help to preserve the cheetah because it helps them to better coexist with humans as they are not killed for threatening flocks and herds.

It has been pretty amazing watching the genetics at work in Aslan as we raised him from a puppy. He always notices when something is out of place or something new has entered the "territory" and has to check it out (inanimate objects included!). He grows accustomed to things he deems not to be a threat (for example the wild ducks usually get a "pass" unless there seems to be some distress signal), but keeps his eyes to the sky to chase off the larger herons and eagles that may enter the airspace. He has also treed and chased off a racoon (that was fun at 2am in the morning in our pajamas!), and cornered a young possum in our yard.

Aslan is a great guardian dog, especially now as he approaches his 2nd birthday and is maturing from some of his earlier puppy antics. He also makes a pretty fantastic guard dog for the entire property (us included!), as we don't have to worry about anyone trying to break in our gate with him standing at the helm. Don't let the glamour photos fool you--what a ferocious sounding bark he has when he means business!