Sidelined

I ambled into the back yard with the aim of executing some gratefully disregarded, servile function.

I contemplated the overgrown grass turning to seed and rotting pile of wood idled by emerald ash quarantine and momentarily reflected on which might insist on sooner consideration.

Luckily my dalliance was rewarded with the familiar cackle of a Grackle, coercing my gawking pupils skyward. However, the basis of my distraction was instantly neglected as my eyes loped over the fence and centered on a marvelous rainbow spanning the neighbor's trees.

Rationalizing the little e's should see this I retreated toward the door. As I turned past the shed I was startled by a huge green frog. A genuine Rana Clamitans, deep green and nearly large as my fist. I fumbled out the camera but the frog fled madly, slamming several times into the side of the shed before finding refuge in a hole below.

I pondered that hole.

As I speculated as to what creature could be responsible for such an abscess my brain staggered back some days when I was cleaning up trash disseminated about the back patio by our resident decomposer, Riley the dog. As I was foraging the remains of whatever it was, now shredded, I noticed what seemed to be a rather moldy lump of organic matter by the corner of the trash can. As I dug my hand under the object and lifted, the substance -- slimy, gelatinous -- slid through my fingers leaving just a film of what seemed to be black fur. (It reminded me very much of the time we pulled poorly preserved brains out of their shipping containers.. But that's another story!) I pushed the trash can a bit to the side and noted several small bones, concluding one of the dogs likely eliminated an unlucky squirrel or rat.

Morbid interest piqued, I pulled the trash can off the remains to reveal this:

Avian, not rodent. And a bit to the left and above the body, damage to the siding we noticed over the winter.

The bird's neck is clearly broken and the siding is damaged in an area not likely to be affected by kids... But the hole is only a foot off the ground and right next to the garbage cans.

Maybe in flight from the dogs..

The children and I reflected on the tragic end to the life of the bird and marveled at its fine features including fairly significant teeth.

We haven't decided if we'll preserve the skeleton or hold a memorial service.