My Fiscal Shrike, patiently watching as I fill her feeding station with small pieces of mince meat. And then, as soon as I call her, she would fly down to come and feed.
I’ve been feeding her ever since we moved into our new apartment at the coast, after relocating from our smallholding in 2020. Over the past six years, she has raised two broods on average every year, often bringing her young ones close enough for me to see them.
Then, two years ago in 2023, something extraordinary happened—she brought her three fledglings right to the feeding table, showing them how to feed on the little pieces of mince.
During those few precious weeks, she allowed me close to them and one of the babies even started taking mince offerings from my hand. Soon they were spending most of their time roosting on a clothes rack on my patio, or appearing every time they spotted me in the garden.
Then the time came that she started chasing them away from the feeding table, not allowing them to come near it. This behaviour is part of breaking the bond between parents and off-spring, when they are getting more independent and ready to leave the fold. It is also a strategic move, as Fiscals are very territorial and claim an area as their own, not allowing any competition for the food resources in that area.
It breaks my heart every time I experience it, but nature has its ancient heartbeat that we have to acknowledge and obey.
