Mr Walker

Mr Walker Updates: Last Two Days

/ The Urban Nature Enthusiast / 8 Comments

Yesterday (April 25)

I went out three times yesterday to check on progress. On my first early morning trip I found Wanda but couldn’t find Mr W at all, so that freaked me out a bit.

I tried again after nine and found him sitting on a Hydro wire in the alley. His demeanour could be summed up as “sick as a chip.” I eventually got him to come down to a fence for some peanuts, but he was very skittish (almost as if he knows I’ve been plotting to try and grab him to go to the wildlife rescue!)

When I visited again around lunch time I found both he and Wanda — and he seemed every so slightly more perky, even having a little look in someone’s recycling box at one point.

I left some peanuts for him, but it’s tricky as I don’t want the neighbouring crows to notice he’s getting extra treats in case it starts a crowfuffle. He’s in such a vulnerable state and the crows in general are so territorial at the moment — the last thing he needs is any trouble. The neighbours are Mr. Wing and Bongo (both mates, White Wing and Bella, seem to have vanished to their nest sitting duties.)

The lovely people at @wildliferescuebc have been in touch and would definitely have him in for treatment if only I could get him there — but he’s very insecure because of his impaired vision so I doubt I could get closer than ten feet away from him at the moment.

Today (April 26)

On the morning walk I couldn’t find any sign of Mr Walker or Wanda. We walked around their block so many times that Geordie was beginning to drag his heels. Not this same block again!!

The lunchtime expedition yielded slightly better results as I found both of the Walkers snuggled together in the top branches of a large tree.

Wanda on right, Mr W on left.

I left a few peanuts and bits of kibble for them, but they didn’t seem interested in moving from their perch, so I couldn’t get a good look at Mr W’s eye today, although it looked to be closed.

I’m hoping that a few days of rest will lead to some level of recovery.

I’ll be checking in with them every day so I’ll let you know if there are any further developments.

 

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© junehunterimages, 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to junehunterimages with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Mr Walker Strides On

/ The Urban Nature Enthusiast / 1 Comment

Mr. Walker is number four in my City Crow Stories book of crow characters — and his life  seems to be rambling on much as it has in previous years.

He and his mate Wanda wait for the dog and I each morning. If Mr. W is busy in the alleyway checking out the bins, Wanda will let him know it’s time.

Time to drop whatever he’s up to and get himself into position for the daily gallop alongside the “bringers of the peanuts” to the sacred spot at the foot of the massive cherry tree.

Here he is in action this very morning — showing fine promenading form once he gets neck and neck with Geordie, the dog …

As per usual, he strides/ambles/scampers alongside Geordie, waits for him to have the customary sniff at his tree, and then up onto his pedestal for the peanut payoff.

As is also routine, Wanda, having arrived at the tree via air (I’ve never seen her lower herself to pedestrian pastimes), drops down from the branches above to get in first dibs.

Mr. Walker this morning, looking as suave as ever

I wrote last summer about the Walkers’ early nesting failure and, though they did seem to be working on a second nest, I think the stress of another hot dry summer led them to just give up in order to concentrate on keeping themselves fed and hydrated.

It’s a pretty exhausting business raising fledglings, as seen in the book with pictures from 2021 when they raised two of them

They went AWOL for the latter part of the summer and imagined them just kicking back in the shade, tiny sunglasses balanced on their beaks, waiting for the cooler weather. Far too hot for any jogging, even for peanuts.

And, indeed, by fall they were back at the appointed spot — Mr. Walker ready, willing and eager to get back into training for the peanut Olympics.

On this occasion, for once, he beat Wanda to the goodies!

The simple reliability of this little daily ritual is strangely comforting — and Mr. Walker’s enthusiastic perambulation technique always brings a smile.

 

See also:  Meet The Walkers (2020)

 

 

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© junehunterimages, 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to junehunterimages with appropriate and specific direction to the original content