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A sulphur crested cockatoo. They've perched on our porch before. I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but these are big birds--about the size of a smallish cat. Today when Jason cracked the door to get a picture it went a little nuts, as you can see. Jason jumped cause it was so loud and jerked the camera a bit. I think that's why our porch rail looks so curvy. Cool, eh?
As an update to life here at Rodent Central, I am sad and freaked out to report that there was another victim of our trap last night. Ew. Ew ew ew. Jason called the agency again this morning and they said they would call someone about it tomorrow. Apparently, they do not understand that this is a pressing and very serious issue. I do not want to have to go over there and key someone's car or anything, but if the situation requires it, I will. As always, you'll be the first to know. Meanwhile, Jase says he knows how they're getting in from the outside, and that he'll block it off or something. I think we should be more drastic. Can you shrink wrap an entire house? Just typing all this out makes my heart beat faster.
Oh! And last thing. I forgot to tell y'all that also on the day we got home, my friend Amy texted me. She stayed here some while we were gone. "I thought you might want to know that I saw a Red Back in your laundry room." That would be the poisonous red back spider, featured previously. Awesome! We've searched thoroughly and can't find it, which makes it more awesomer. But the funny thing is, I am bothered way, way, WAY more about the rat(s) than about the poisonous spider. Aren't we humans illogical and inconsistent creatures?
Apparently while we were gone, nature has been trying to reclaim the house. She must. not. win. I will continue to fight valiantly toward this end. Or really, Jason will. I will mostly whine and obsessively disinfect.
I wonder if the cockatoo would very kindly be on the lookout for your rats? You could invite it in. But on second thought he looks a bit too aggressive,I think. But what a beautiful bird! Have you taken a good look in the recesses of the pantry? I'm just saying it would be a good rat hideout. Ew.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sign, Amy! Come home now!:)
ReplyDeleteYes, I have. But thanks for that, Mom. I'm going to go die now. ;)
ReplyDeleteI am sorry. I blogged about mice last month. I was counseled to poison them & not trap them and I didn't listen and etc and is that really how I want to live? Spreading poison? You have cockatoos just flying around like starlings? Far out.
ReplyDeleteThe bird life is one of my fave things about Oz.
ReplyDeleteBut. . .the rodent. This aggression must not stand.
Also, your pantry is the size of many bedrooms in cities like NY or SF. So you could easily be harboring my capybara in there.
Buy a snake and let it loose in your house. It'll get rid of the rats. Then let the cockatoo loose and it might rid you of the snake.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I feel bad for ya on the rodent issue. Do not let anyone put out poison. The traps work fine (so that you know Jason can remove them). Seems it is summer and the one or two that got in wanted water.
ReplyDeleteI just read all of your spider posts and OHMYGOD am never going to Australia, land of eight-legged monsters.
ReplyDeleteEw, ewww, ewwww. Bu-huuuurrrrrr. I've dealt with mice before (moved into my stove that was stored on screen porch during a kitchen renovation, imagine my delight at MOUSE SCAT in my brand-new kitchen) and it TOTALLY freaked me out.
ReplyDeleteI truly believe I'd require heavy medication for rats. And can I just say, thank the lord for husbands.
The cockatoo!! Gracious sakes! It's unreal to think that he's a native, just hangin' out on your railing? Wow. We have ravens. Crows. That's it. Okay, and dobermans... you're inspired a blog post! :)
ReplyDeleteThe cockatoo is so rad!
ReplyDeletePoisonous spiders and rats. oh dear oh dear oh dear. thanks for the heebie jeebies!
Do you need to borrow a cat? I have some cats you can borrow. And when they're not exterminating stuff you can dress them up in doll clothes like my girls do. ;-)