The crew and I have been followed.
I first become aware yesterday morning that someone is stalking us. I spot the stalker peeking into the back window of the Best Little Trailer.
I recognize him right away — the black and white checkered suit, the little red hat, his hunched shoulders, thin legs, and that pointy beak.
Oh dear, it’s him all right. I was afraid this might happen.
Quickly I lower the blind.
Darn! He knows where we are! I wait a few minutes. Then slowly I lift a slat and peek out. Whew! No sign of him . . . for now. How did he find us so quickly?
A possible scenario forms in my mind . . . .
“Okay, hombres. Listen up. We are about to deploy Operation Strawberry. You four have been chosen for your flying skills, your reconnaissance abilities, and for your quick-thinking under pressure. You’ve trained well. I expect you won’t let us down on this important mission.”
Four red berets nod in assent.
“Here’s how it’s going down. You’re gonna’ fan out to your designated location. Then you’ll work your way back here, scanning the desert as you go. You’re looking for a white fiberglass trailer quite possibly with a white Chevy van, a solar panel on top, South Dakota plates.”
He gives out the assignments.
“Carlos, your location is Locomotive Rock.
Benito, you go to Cow Plop Mountain.
Pancho Gila, you take Black Mountain.
And Miguel, go to the copper mine. Any questions?”
Pancho Gila hesitantly speaks up, “Perdone, commandante, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to wait here in case she and her two companions return. I’ll expect you all back here by oh-two-hundred hours. Adios, hombres, and buena suerte.”
Meanwhile, I busy myself with housework, pushing the stalker out of my mind.
My work done, I stretch out on the bed with my kindle. Bridget and Spike cozy up with me. I’m surprised by a distinct tapping. What the heck is that?
I sit up straight and strain to listen. The tapping becomes louder and more insistent.
It’s him! For heaven’s sake, he’s drumming on the side of the BLT!
I dash outside in time to see him swoop to the top of a saguaro.
Oh dear, I can’t have him drilling into the fiberglass. I might as well give up. He’s certainly not going to.
I open up the PTV and pull out the strawberry hummingbird feeder. I go into the BLT, pour a cup of sugar and four cups of water into a saucepan.
Before long I’m hanging the feeder full of sugar water onto the palo verde behind the BLT.
If you think I made this all up, you’re wrong.
Well, the part about the commandos, but the rest is true. All five gila woodpeckers — and I firmly believe they are the same ones from our last campsite — are now fighting over the plastic strawberry. There’s a total breakdown in military discipline out there.
rvsue
Canine Corner: “A Secret” by Bridget and Spike
“Hey, Bridge, wait up! I wanna tell you somethin.'”
“What is it, Spike?”
“Can you keep a secret?”
“What kind of a question is that, Spike. What are you trying to hide now?”
“Oh, never mind. You’ll rat on me. I know you. Little Miss Ratface.”
“Let me tell you something, Spike. You’re a sneaky boy and everybody knows it. So you better keep your secret to yourself. I’m going to tell RVSue.”
“Tell her what? You don’t even know the secret.”
“If it has anything to do with an avocado, you’re in big trouble. Like the old saying goes, Spike . . . The truth will come out somehow. Hahahaha!”
Oops! I don’t know what key I hit, but I lost my message. Anyway, we hope weather in southern Arizona continues to be balmy and we’ll be thinking about you three as we travel. Good luck keeping yourselves safe from the rapacious woodpeckers.
You pulling out?
My original message was that my husband and I planned a trip to visit family in Phoenix. I think there are two Pats from Kansas. We don’t have a trailer. We travel in a comfortable sedan or our truck. But you have inspired us to explore the southern part of AZ on our way to Phoenix. Two days before we planned to leave a storm is expected to hit eastern KS. They said we’d have ice too. So we moved our departure up three days and will drive south to San Antonio and then travel west on Hwy 10. We hope to see some of the nice spots you have shown in your blog.
I hope the avocado shows up soon. I often find very unappealing things rolling around under the seats of my car and my sister-in-law found a very ripe piece of meat in hers.
Oh, I didn’t notice the KS part! The Pat camped across from me isn’t from Kansas…
Have a wonderful trip exploring southern Arizona!
OMG! Thank you for the laugh! I can picture it as if I am there with you! Have a great day!
You, too, Mary.
Uhhhh….I guess setting up the strawberry is going to become part of setting up your camp. Ya can’t have them pecking at the BLT! Or dive bombing you and the crew until you fess it up!
As for the missing avacado………….the experts can’t decided on if they are good or bad for your dog. Can cause an upset stomach. Hopefully he didn’t eat the seed….that may be difficult to pass due to the size. Thank god they are slippery!
Bridget, you are so precious! Is Spike missing his soakings? Miss seeing the pictures of him lying in the water.
I don’t think Spike ate it. It’s a slow news day. I notice the woodpeckers have a plan. There’s always one of them in the palo verde keeping watch on the feeder in case a hummer comes along. Poor little things don’t have a chance.
I’ve seen woodpeckers take on chipmunks! Opps did I say chipmunks?
The name that shall not be spoken.
Great blog today. Beautiful photos as always! Such a pleasure.
Thank you, Linda.
Love it!!!! Had me on the edge on my seat. LOL
These dang gila woodpeckers don’t take no for an answer!
Adorable. Thank you so much! 🙂
You’re welcome, Tamara.
You had me going there…well for the first couple of paragraphs. lol. Cute post
ginger Las Vegas
Thank you, Ginger.
“You’ll rat on me”.
That was excellent. Quite the wordsmith. Assuming you meant it the way I understood it.
Thank you. What’s one to expect from rat terriers!
animals are so amazing~the birds here also have their ways of letting me know they want the feeders filled. great story!
Thanks, Mary Ann. I believe animals, including birds, know more than we give them credit.
Hi Sue! Melvin and Alfie were so excited that Spike and Bridget had posted in Canine Corner. Of course, they can’t quite read yet, but loved when Mom read the story to them. They are a constant source of amusement and I’m so glad I brought them home. Have I told you that I’m taking boxing fitness classes?
Boxing fitness classes? Like in a boxing ring?
Your little pups are going to be so spoiled! Which is the whole point, right?
Not in a ring, but does involve gloves and a bag. I usually name my bag before every session.
LOL, Yeah I would have some “names” for the punching bag if I did that also!
Boy am I glad you put the strawberry out!!!!! One of the scouts was over here early this morning pecking on my home.
Thanks for saving our homes.
Pat, across the road
Ha! That’s so funny! They are very persistent. I guess they make the rounds of all the RVs until someone caves in and gives them what they want.
Hahahaha! This story made my day!
Hi Sunny!
We’re going to have to get a feeder for our trip to the desert. Can’t have those little woodpeckers pecking on the Little RV. Another good tip in the form of a story from Sue and the Crew! Thanks Sue!
Juley
I’ve learned that once you start putting out sugar water, you’re committed! I’m going to have to leave the desert to get away from these sugar-water-suckers!!
Sue,
I can’t stop laughing 🙂 You blog is the best.
Evan at base camp in Nevada.
Hi Evan,
Oh how I want that Sirius XM radio! Can’t get one delivered here.
I hope you and Wanda are well and happy. Nice to know you read and enjoy my blog.
Reminds me of the time we watched a bird peck at a water container left on a table at a camp site until it put a hole in it. It then proceeded to drink the water. How did it Know there was water in that jug?
Mark
Salina ks
These woodpeckers get impatient trying to stick their beaks in the little yellow flowers on the feeder. I see them drilling in the side of the red plastic sunflower. It’s out of control . . .
sounds like a very exciting day…never a dull moment!
Yeah,, I can find excitement in concrete. Nice to hear from you, Mary.
Cute post Sue, loved the play on words by Bridget….. It’s never boring reading your blog!
Thank you, Merle.
Isn’t it amazing how something as small as a bird can learn and actually think things out? All of nature is amazing!
An endless source of amazement . . .
Hi Sue..you can buy a Exm/Sireus satelite radio at Wal-mart, the higher priced one is the best…LOL on those birds and what Cindy n’ Jules said about slippery pits.,,, still lol,lol
Hi Rusty . . . No Wal-Mart around here… I’ll get my radio soon.
Why can’t you just order one from Amazon? I’m confused…
I ordered a replacement sewer hose and a Benchmark map, but I didn’t get either of them. Since I don’t have a home in Ajo, I use General Delivery at the post office.
Amazon ships a lot of packages via UPS and I don’t know if the post office won’t accept UPS packages or if UPS won’t deliver to the post office…. Either way, I don’t get my packages.
Ajo is a tiny town. I don’t know of any place for UPS delivery here. I could ask an RV park to accept delivery, but I’d rather just wait until I’m not far from a UPS store. I’ve tried to resolve this issue with Amazon. No luck so far.
It’s not only woodpeckers who figure things out but remember I was saying the hummers at my sister’s house look through the window when their feeder is empty. Maybe you can put a fake owl on your BLT to keep the woodpeckers away. Several months ago, I remember a reader of your blog suggested no feeding wild animals (probably could include stray animals) cuz they get too use to humans and not afraid or want to be adopted i.e. stray dog in Nevada. Maybe that’s why park rangers post signs telling us not to feed animals. I still feed hummers but always afraid they may not move on to their summer homes…too hot for them in Phoenix in summer. As you said, ‘dam if you do, and dam if you don’t.’ I live across a public park and I’ve seen dog food and water put out for stray dogs but apparently it also attracted rodents, birds, and even coyotes so we in the neighborhood all received a mail flyer telling us not to feed stray cats and dogs. At the community meeting, some parents were concerned because some of the dogs have become very aggressive (the park is also next to a grade school). Now I call the dog catcher or humane society if I see a stray dog hoping they will be placed in a good home. Very tough to not feed the dogs knowing they are hungry and thirsty.
I figure the woodpeckers will do fine as we are heading into spring and flowers will bloom, providing nectar, and the warmer weather means more insects out and about. The woodpeckers will do fine.
Stray dogs are a problem. Check to make sure they go to a No-Kill shelter, if possible, or a rescue group.
P/S I have good intentions but sometimes it back fires on me.
too cute, loved today’s blog. Glad we didn’t have to worry about if the birds were residents or illegals (wink) but i’m glad you decided to give them a drink. I still think there is more to come about the missing avacado, a good “who done it” storyline is developing. Have a great wk sue! Kris
Thank you, Kris. Wishing you a great week, too.
i enjoy your posts. those gila woodpeckers, even the name makes me laugh. ‘gila’ in malay means ‘mad’. haha.
Interesting… They do act quite mad at times.
Get a decoy of an Owl and put it near the Hummingbird feeder. Birds of pray are enemies of the woodpecker.
Aw, the woodpeckers can have the sugar water. I noticed a hummingbird got some sips in today, too.
Perhaps two hummingbird feeders are in order. Put a Owl decoy up for the Hummingbird feeder and place the other Woodpecker feeder waaay over thar.
We have left AZ so I am having saguaro withdrawal. Keep those cactus pictures coming!!
Okay! I’ll miss this place when I leave, too.
That Spike, Peck’s Bad Boy for sure. Bridget is smart to keep you informed! Bet they might know where that stinkin’ avacado is.
Hi Susan,
I can say Spike hasn’t been up to nearly as many schemes as of late. I think he’s mellowing in his old age.
You crack me up!! Woodpeckers can be nasty little birds. We had a couple that would peck on the sides of our house… little turkeys.
It’s an adjustment to find yourself bossed around by a bird. The bunch of them make quite a commotion. Just imagine if I took up the feeder… I’d have five of them drilling on the fiberglass. When I break camp, the feeder is the last thing I’ll pack and then I’ll hit the pedal!
You are a riot, Sue!!! but poor Spike: 2 againest one……the Kanine Kids
Oh, Spikey can hold his own, believe me. Bridget and I find ourselves making accommodations for him every day.
I got a kick out of hearing how tyrannical those birds can be. Squirrels are another persistent critter, and creative, too.
Regarding animals becoming dependent on humans….That’s not the reason rangers don’t wanting you to feed them. Such acts of kindness also attack apex predators such as mountain lions, which are attracted to the smaller critters, as well as bears, who eat anything else as well. I should remind you and your readers of the inescapable fact that bears, being bears, don’t like surprises for squat. Not even nice ones. You will quickly learn to appreciate the value of this should you stumble upon one while it investigates your “goodies”. You should also know that even a rather small bear can shame a D6 Catapillar. In other words, rangers don’t want you feeding critters because they don’t want you becoming their next meal, which is not unlikely if you should surprise one while exiting you humble abode, for instance. Did I mention they don’t like surprises? Bears, of course, are a minimal danger in desert areas, unless bordering mountain woodlands. Mountain lions are normal in both areas, as well as the usual bobcats and coyotes.
Play safely, gang. And thanks, Sue, for continuing to share your wit and experiences with us!
You’re welcome, Varmint! Interesting comment . . .