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I am a Snitch

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Much to my children’s dismay, I am officially a snitch. They cannot believe I would do what I did. I can only say that there is no way my conscience would let me do otherwise.

You see, on this cold December day, I decided to go to the Parc de la Frayère and it’s neighbouring Stephen-Langevin Arboretum. It’s where I have captured many birds with my lens, including a lovely Northern Saw-Whet that I shared on Sorryless for Wordless Wednesday.

As I walked, I happily captured a mourning dove and some male and female cardinals.

A little shy dove
Mrs. Cardinal
Mr. Cardinal

And a couple woodpeckers. I’m not very knowledgeable about birds so I did google them before writing this post. From what I can understand, I have both a Hairy and a Downy woodpecker. They do look so very similar but the downy one has no red on its head.

Hairy Woodpecker from feeder
to tree and back
Downy woodpecker
Refused to show its face

There were also the usual chickadees (sorry, forgot to take their pic), since all these feeders attract them, as well. I continued along the path, walking behind a couple. A couple who knew their birds. They, Carl and Nancy, told me they had had to leave their camera at home as they had forgotten to charge the battery. A bummer of a day to do so as the birds were numerous. While they could not photograph, they were more than happy to point. “Oh look at that fat robin. He definitely does not look hungry…”

Oh! A waxwing! Right there! Look at his mask, isn’t he beautiful? Of course, they were giving me the names in French and I was so busy trying to point my camera where they pointed that I heard a whole lotta nuthin’. I had trouble seeing and basically hoped that something would land in my memory card. Surprisingly, they did. Google images search has helped me out. I’m thinking this is a Cedar Waxwing. I seem to remember hearing Jaseur de Bohême. Of course, I could be wrong.

Cedar Waxwing
A little closer

There were so many starlings in the trees. These guys I could see really well!

The last bird they pointed at was the Dark-Eyed Junco. At least, that’s what I think it is. It was on the ground and pretty far away and looked like a grey little bird. But, like I said, I know a whole lotta nuthin’ when it comes to birds! Cute little fella.

We continued walking, searching for owls, but all for naught. We parted ways and I went back to the bird feeders, hoping to find a cardinal couple on the same branch.

What’s that? You ask if I’m to leave you hanging for much longer on why I am a snitch? My apologies. I got side-tracked.

You see, as I rounded a corner, so to speak, I could smell smoke and hear the crackle of fire. I took a few more steps and there they were. Two “yutes” with a pretty decent fire. Another gent comes up beside me. “Are they allowed to make fires here?” I ask, knowing full-well the answer is “no”. This is a bird sanctuary. We’ve had enough trouble with people disturbing the owls last year, trying to shake them out of their trees. The man grumbled along-side me.

As we started to exit the arboretum, I decided to dial 9-1-1 and let the fire department know. While the boys were on the edge of the park, I feared they might get over-exuberant. The gent said he was of a mind to call as well. “Do,” I said. “More than one call will make it serious.”

I don’t know if he did or not, but as I walked on the other side, I heard them approach…

…and keep on driving. “What the–” I was too far to flag them down. I waited for a bit and kept on walking to the edge of the river, wondering if they would turn around.

Knowing the sunset would not be happening, I started walking back to my car when I got a call. It was the fire department. They couldn’t find the fire. I told the dispatcher that I had seen the truck drive right past and figured they would turn around eventually. He couldn’t understand where it was so I explained in detail how the park was set up, telling him the truck could not drive into said park, that they would have to go by foot. Once it seemed all was clear, we hung up and I kept on walking, turning around to see if they showed up.

They did.

I know not what followed. I’m not a snitch and watch kinda gal…

100 thoughts on “I am a Snitch”

  4. Why my little snitchadee, good for you. Fire is not good in a bird sanctuary. Out here were we have a deficit of precipitation and a water debt on the Rio Grande, we are super snitches when it comes to fire. Now that I got that out of the way, you got a lot of beautiful bird photos, and the clouds were making a nice grid pattern while out for a walk, skip and a snitch.

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Snitch is a harsh word for someone who cares about nature! I did that once when I saw someone cutting down 100s year old pine trees and was happy that I stopped them from continuing to the next…
    Wow girl… all these beautiful birds!!!
    Dale, sweet birdwatcher!
    A kiss to you! ❤😘😘😘

    Liked by 2 people

  10. If I ever come to visit, I want to go there and walk around to see all the beautiful birds. And if anyone is making fires, we will both call. You weren’t out in the wilderness–I can’t imagine anyone thinking it was OK to make a fire. I don’t think that’s being a snitch.
    Beautiful photos!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Dear Dale,

    You go girl! Better a snitch than a blaze. Beautiful shots. I’m thinking your cardinal might make a good companion for another painting I did. 😉 May I put my order in for a bluebird? I’ve had a potential customer ask. 😉 Just sayin’.

    Shalom and lotsa unscathed hugs,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Absolutely not a snitch!!!! …. You just did the responsible thing while enjoying the park. OH … about Downey and Hairy Woodpeckers. They are very similar – well – except for size. Downey is the mini Hairy while Hairy is the giant Downey. Therefore Hairy’s bill is longer, Downey’s much shorter. Each has the red marking – but only the males.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. As they say here: “see something, say something” – and I mean it in the best ‘snich’ way possible. Not as a gossip, but as part of a community. If something is a danger, then it needs attending to rather than looking the other way. Me proud of you. On behalf of the robins, starlings, owls, field-mice, and all who call the sanctuary home and have no phones with which to dial 911. You is a good neighbor.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I have not often been put in a situation where my actions could make a difference. I just could not look the other way. The other gent beside me was just as troubled and I told him I had just called. He said he would, too. I don’t know if he did or not, I didn’t stick around to find out. I was definitely trying to be a good neighbour 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • You are EXACTLY the proof of good neighbor. It doesn’t mean doing the easy things. It means doing the hard things, too, even when they are uncomfortable, as long as your conscience tells you to do so. I think of times when I called Children’s Protective Services after seeing bruising on a child. It is always difficult. Especially when you know the family, and when you wonder whether you are making it worse, or making a big deal, or the parents “didn’t mean to” or … And yet, it is ALWAYS the right thing to do if you see a helpless person/being under threat. Explaining it away when our heart tells us to make a call, is not the right thing to do … Calling, and giving the voiceless a voice (and a chance), is. You did the right thing, even when it wasn’t easy. I’m proud of you! XOXO

        Liked by 1 person

        • Thank you for that, my friend.
          I wonder, when Mick was a child, why none of his teachers called… I know, back in the late 60’s, early 70’s it wasn’t what it is today, but still…
          XOXO

          Liked by 1 person

          • Yes … at the time (and these were different times) there was no such thing as a mandated reporter, but also, there was a different view of child abuse and the function of others in ‘minding their own business’ in how families operated. People looked the other way on alcoholism and neglect, on bruising on children, on known sexual abuse. They certainly looked away on domestic abuse (it was legal until 1993 in some US states to rape one’s wife!!). So … a lot of children grew up with everyone pretty much knowing that their home life was miserable and abusive, and with people shaking their heads in most cases, and sometimes offering some safe haven in their homes in the best scenarios. It is heartbreaking to remember, and it helps to know that some things DID change with time, even if it is still not always that people will speak up when they see something. THAT to me is heartbreaking still. So sorry that Mick suffered. So needless. When we know today that the impact of child trauma is lifelong. 😦
            Hugs!
            Na’ama

            Liked by 1 person

          • True. All that you say.
            And, on the bright side, for him, it meant that he would never, ever lay a hand on his children. And he drilled into them to never do so to another, especially to a girl. It was a zero tolerance thing for him. It could have gone another way…
            Hugs!
            Dale xoxo

            Liked by 1 person

          • Yes, it could have gone another way, and it shows the person that he was, that he chose to PROTECT rather than Re-inflict.
            There are more and more like him that there are the abusive way, and that’s a blessing, too.
            Every child unharmed is a child saved. It is a life saved. Often literally.
            Here’s to breaking the cycles of abuse.
            And to Mick, in heaven, still protecting others, I’m sure.
            Na’ama

            Liked by 1 person

          • Oh yes. He was such a kind and generous man. Don’t mess with him but he was fair, too.
            Here’s to breaking the cycles!
            And here’s to Mick. Ever-present in one way or another.
            xoxo

            Liked by 1 person

  24. Someone has to speak up for wildlife! Fires can get out of control and damage these birds’ homes. Besides, it probably wasn’t a legal fire, so good to set the record straight. 🙂
    You captured quite a few birds with your camera! The waxwing is a Cedar Waxwing (Bohemians have red instead of white under the tail) and depending on size, there are Downy and Hairy woodpeckers (Downy being smaller with white spots on edge of tail) and both species’ females have no red. I love your cardinals!

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Q

    Nah, you ain’t no snitch. There is a clause that precludes any and all accusations of snitchery against the party involved. It states that while snitching ain’t cool, there are exceptions. Such as, if a kid, pregnant woman or animal is in danger of being harmed in any way. This changes everything, and so you were only doing right by nature when you ‘snitched’ . . told . . wait, reported. Yes, you reported what really needed to be reported.

    Case closed! 😉

    B

    Liked by 1 person

  29. You did the right thing, Thunder!
    There’s way too much disrespect for animals in this world.
    “I didn’t know it was against the law” is not an excuse here, or in a court of law.
    Time to man up, and LEARN!

    Liked by 1 person

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