DEAR JOAN: I’m used to the squawking of Steller’s jays, but one regular visitor to our yard mimics the cry of hawks in our area. Have you ever heard of this? Any explanation?
— Gary Summers, Walnut Creek
DEAR GARY: Steller’s jays are more than a little bit devious, using their ability to mimic hawk calls to gain an advantage over a food source.
They trick other birds and squirrels into thinking a hawk is prowling the area. The frightened animals seek cover and leave the jays to eat their fill in peace.
DEAR JOAN: We’ve had hummingbird feeders for several years now and always had a small group of four to five Anna’s hummers as regular visitors.
In the past month or so we’ve had hordes of visitors who swarm the feeders. I need to fill our four feeders daily or every other day.
We love watching their antics, but wonder if the large presence is because of seasonal migration or if word has gotten around the hummingbird grapevine that an easy meal can be had at our place. Any thoughts?
— J.W.G., Walnut Creek
DEAR J.: If all the visiting hummers are Anna’s hummingbirds, chances are good that reviews on CHIRP, the avian equivalent of YELP, have given your feeders five stars. Hummers will take advantage of most nectar that’s offered, but when the food and ambiance (clean feeders and no predators) are to their liking, word does get around.
Anna’s hummers are permanent residents in the Bay Area, but other hummers migrate through the state, some starting as early as July and August, and they might be the reason for your sudden popularity. They fuel up before leaving, and feed heavily during the long journey.
DEAR JOAN: Our family has a golden retriever named Oskar, who is 13 years old. Ever since we brought him home as a tiny puppy, he has had this nightly ritual of lying down with one of his many beloved stuffed animals and sucking on them.
The best way I can describe it is that he will begin by playing with his toy — maybe tug of war or shaking it around — and eventually he will lie down, put the toy between his paws and begin incessantly chewing/suckling on it. It’s like he’s in a trance and he cannot be distracted! He usually does this for around 10 or 20 minutes.
Our suspicion is that he began doing this as a puppy as a way to mimic suckling on his mother, but he has kept it up for 13 years. Is this common?
— Lena and Oskar, Sunnyvale
DEAR LENA and OSKAR: Yes, it’s very common behavior and usually not harmful. If Oskar starts doing it for hours at a time or multiple times a day, that would be considered obsessive and you should go to the vet.
You are correct in your suspicion. Dogs and cats often will suckle on a toy, or even another animal, as a way to re-create those memories of comfort from nursing their mothers. At this point, it has likely just become a habit and Oskar’s soothing bedtime ritual.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com
