Each spring, it starts…the endless war between Zack the Wonder Dog… and the mockingbird. The mockingbirds build a nest, and Zack goes to check it out, and the war begins.
In an endless give and take of taunting, talking trash to each other, and physical contact, there is never a winner. As spring progresses, and the chicks hatch, the bird gets even more protective, and will actually chase Zack and bump Zack on his butt.
This year, for the first time, we were able to catch the start of the negotiations. As you know, Zack is a trained tree-climbing hunting dog. Well, he's not really trained to climb trees. That is a behavior he has adopted for the times he's home and "not hunting." He is trained to lock point on dove, quail, pheasant and chukkar. In this movie, he is locked on a dove in the tree. The mockingbird is not happy, and is trying to divert Zack from the general area of the kite nest located in an adjacent tree.
(The sock around Zack’s neck is an end result of Steve and Zack playing tug of war this morning, but it helps to track Zack in the movie.) (Also, please forgive my movie making and the laughter. I promise I’ll get better as time goes on. Steve’s promised to get me a new digital. Woohoo!)
Here ya go!!!
Zack and the Kite May 6 2007
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10 comments:
That was very cool! Love your accent too!
Way to go Zack...what focus. Come see me and the quail nesting in the yard. (Around which Michael has placed a flag so I won't mow over it!)
Rachel - did you like all the goofy comments we made? We got really tickled at him. I've got to figure out how to edit sound. Steve said you probably think we sound like "country hi-yucks." (hicks)...
Pam - If the Zackster came to see that quail, he wouldn't need the flag to locate it. Though I'm glad Michael is protecting the environment. Probably Sweet Pea is telling that quail what to do!!
That is so funny! Zack's one focused dog! I loved hearing you two laughing at it all.
Point one: I'm glad I watched the video, because I had no idea that the kite was a bird.
Point two: You need a steadycam or a tripod, I think. I got motion sickness. =)
Foo....point one....I should have been more descriptive of the bird, huh...
point two...(this is stupid...on the Minolta Konica A2 I have, I thought I had to keep my finger pushed down continuously on the trigger to film.
Not so.
I'm usually a pretty amazing photographer, but trying to see in that sun without an eye cap and keeping the button pushed down to video got the best of me. I can recommend...ummmm...something for motion sickness, but hopefully, you won't have it again!!;)
I'm with Foo. I had to read pretty far through the post before I got over my wonder at the kite that could build a nest! (Must be one of them Chinese special models.) ;-)
Zack appears to have the patience of Job. ;-)
That was great. Had to call Cherie in to watch and she cracked up too but when Zack went shooting up the tree she exclaimed "oh my God" amazed at how high he could go.
Eric, Gwynne, Bob - thanks for stopping by (and Bob, tell Cherie welcome home!)...Zack is pretty patient.
We look forward to plenty of interaction between this bird and Zack.
We'll keep y'all posted!
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