Wednesday, October 15, 2014

DIARY OF A CURLEW CARER #7

The two Curlew chicks  have survived and are  at a  stage where  they are seen  leaping about   trying out  wings ,  ready to launch . The Berlin Wall has been opened  up so that they can  come and go   from  the  safety of  the  backyard.  They  still   hang  about the   backdoor at  certain times of  the day ,  6am and 4.30pm ,  knowing  that  they  will  get  fed  . After  listening  to  the  2am  news  on  the  ABC ,  a  posse  of  possums   thunder  across  the  roof . Rise from  bed , don dressing gown  ,  tiptoe  out  to  backdoor  so as  not to wake  wife .

As  I  go to step onto  the verandah ,  intending  to  enter the  den and fire up  the computer , the    possums  gallop  overhead. Grab   a broom  ,  turn back light on  just in time to   see  possums  leap off   roof  into  palm trees .Two fall  down, dong one  and  it sprints  up  a  tree.   Shake  tree  and   bark  like a dog  (what will  neighbours think? ) to  put  wind up  the  critters.  Curlews  screech in alarm  .  Turn  off  outside  light  and  hunch over   computer .  All  is  quiet...  Suddenly   a  Curlew   indicates  it  is  not  happy. Leap up,  turn on  outside  light and  there  seems to be a  veritable  flock of possums –on  the ground . Grab broom , make  noise  like attacking  feral cat     (what  will  neighbours  think ? )   and   possums  race  off   in  different  directions.  One  pauses  at  the  base of  the mango tree ,  so launch  the  broom at  it like an  Exocet . It  runs up  the tree and   I  harass  it  with  the  broom  and   loud   killer  cat  sounds .   Retreat   to  den , like a Gladiator , and   the  possums  go silent .  About 4am, lurch out of den , make breakfast   for wife  who  had  not  heard the possums  .Then   slip  into bed  to  catch up on  much  needed   beauty sleep.  Wake up  about  8.30 ,  bleary eyed, look out window to check on Curlews . All  well .Then a movement  caught  my eye   in  the mandarin tree .  At   first  I  thought it was  a bird caught in the netting . No-a bloody possum !  A   young  one  well  and  truly  caught . My wife  says  it  has  a  lovely face . Standing   unsteadily on  a chair , with  a  pair of  secateurs  and  a   sharp knife  ,  wearing  a  glove on  one hand , I   free  the   possum.

The   possum  took a liking to the glove and did not want to let  go.  It  looked up at  me   with  its  cute eyes  as  if  it  thought  I  was  a  distant  relative – a polecat? - with   my dishevelled   hair . Placed on  the  ground , it  just  sat  there , looked  back at  me ... then bounced off  , like a  rubber  ball , straight  a t the  adult Curlews, causing them to screech  and  spread   their   wings . After  negotiating   the   mesh fence ,  it rapidly climbed  up  a  large  palm  tree . The   nights   have  been  quiet  ever   since .