Sometimes screaming is a good thing

[Taprock]

Ziggy's cage is facing a window that overlooks our walk out basement and field beyond. He isn't a big screamer unless something is bothering him or he sees something. In the morning I can hear him scream at me when I walk past to do chores but only when he can see me.
This afternoon I was at work but my son was home. Ziggy started screaming so my son went to see if he could tell what was wrong and talk to him to try calm him down. What he saw was a fox with mange sneaking up to the back of the house and Ziggy was screaming at it. My son went to deal with the fox but it ran off. Thankfully none of the outside birds (free ranging turkey, chicken, ducks and Guineas) were harmed, however I'm sure it will be back. Hopefully Ziggy will be alert and let us know when it comes back. He got some popcorn for a special treat and he can scream if he wants to!

 

[Flboy]

And, we are the smart ones?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Clever boy Ziggy, well done.

Probably a lot more useful than my Plum who shouts 'hello' at the wildlife now!

Hoping your free range stock stays safe.

 

[Anansi]

Ziggy makes quite the dutiful sentry! Most impressive!

You are so right. In the right flock dynamic context, sometimes screaming is indeed a good thing.

 

[BeatriceC]

Go Ziggy! Good job protecting your extended family!

 

[SailBoat]

That's amazing! Fox are smart and will likely try to avoid your 'Automatic Alarm System' by coming from a different directions.

This is the sixth report of a Fox sighting from different friends in Western and Northern Lower Michigan in the last five weeks. Interesting to say the least.

 

[GaleriaGila]

You GO, Zigster!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Conure power.
Rickeybird is on duty, too. Unfortunately, he has his own opinions about what should be chased away... mailman, recumbent bicycles, lawn mowers...

Wow, there's no telling what disaster Ziggy prevented.

 

[Taprock]

Ziggy has definitely decided the back field is his territory. He was screaming at a pair of bald eagles out back yesterday. Today my husband was driving out back and he was screaming at the truck. He's our very own back yard watch system!

Sailboat this is the second fox in six months that has had a severe case of mange. The first I wasn't sure what it was. My first thought was chupacabra?

 

[SailBoat]

Ziggy has definitely decided the back field is his territory. He was screaming at a pair of bald eagles out back yesterday. Today my husband was driving out back and he was screaming at the truck. He's our very own back yard watch system!

Sailboat this is the second fox in six months that has had a severe case of mange. The first I wasn't sure what it was. My first thought was chupacabra?

I can understand that thought that it was a chupacabra, the disfiguring results of mange can clear present as if it was such an animal. We had been hit hard with mange in a wide cross-section of animals in our area about ten years ago.

If you are seeing mange affected animals on your property, you really want to set them down. They are in terrible pain and tend to stay in an ever smaller area that provides them enough to eat without much effort. We had one begging for food, feed it for a couple of days to verify that it was mange and then set her down. Sad, but the right thing to do.