Life and Death at the Ocean

Quote of the Day:
“The truth about the rain is how it falls.”
--Dar Williams

These last few days have brought some strong northwest winds from the ocean, bringing cold to the central coast of California.

Last night when we opened the garage a cormorant flew in. They are long-necked, energetic, graceful birds who will surface-dive for fish where other birds have long since given up,

This bird was clearly in distress, as it stumbled to find a quiet, calm place. It finally settled along the side wall, and seemed comfortable, so we left it there, with the door open. Later we discovered that the bird had died right where it was sitting.

It was a little baffling how a sick or disabled cormorant could find its way into our fenced yard. Then, this morning, I discovered the disturbing reason why. The manager of our rental house had put a rat trap up against the house, just outside the garage. With its long, slender neck, the cormorant would have no trouble reaching in for the poison bait inside the trap.

And so the consequence of our need to rid our lives of pests is the death of an innocent, wild creature who thought he happened upon a treat.