Black Bird Brigade & Skunks

I saw, I heard. 

The black bird brigade that owns my backyard dove and pulled up. In unison, they kept a close watchful eye. They called their agitation, chirped their offences, and warned the intruder. They chattered and swooped to show their displeasure. Something, or more on point, someone, was in their territory, and they didn't like it. I looked to see what was causing the commotion and there he was: a skunk. 

Now why, I ask you, were the birds so incensed by the intrusion of a skunk in their backyard? The little waddler wove its was in and out and around the plants in the garden. Four birds took to branches in a tree overlooking the scene, and periodically chirped their irritation. I cautiously watched from behind a screen and some window panes, fascinated to see the critter while feeling slightly trepidatious at the same time; after all, this potentially odious visitor could be a stinky menace, and the last thing anyone wants when they see a skunk, is to be sprayed. 

I talk to animals. I call them Sweetie or Cutie and tell them Hello. I feed animals. When I make "milk" from almonds, I put the ground almond meal outside for my little backyard friends to nibble. Some people tell me that this is an unwise practice, and today, I am wondering, Are they correct? Should I refrain, since perhaps, skunks are now looking for a quick snack left out by moi? I wondered at myself, not saying Hello to the cute critter in his black and white every day costume. Was I afraid of him? 

The birds and their backyard. The skunk and his ability to wander wherever he likes. Ants and snails, worms and potato bugs, they all live freely, and really do not think much about the humans that invade their homes and habitats, digging up and dropping down things that do not belong. They, the creatures, don't think, and yet, they react. Those birds this morning own what I pay for in property taxes. The backyard is their domain and they are territorial for goodness sakes ... they will naturally defend and protect what belongs to them, and will do what they can to intimidate interlopers and unwanted's. I found two baby birds dropped dead on the concrete in that backyard, and I have my suspicions about who the culprits were; I point my unfeathered finger at the black birds that were eye balling the skunk this morning, as backyard guardians and protectors of what is theirs. While humans see fences as lines of demarcation, marking off where they start and stop and someone else begins and ends, the birds freely fly into any and every backyard they choose, marking and policing the land as only animals can. 

I liked that little skunk, but did not feel inclined to engage with him. The birds didn't like the skunk at all, and while they swooped near a couple of times as a form of harassment, the skunk was nonplussed, and went about his sniffing business, touring every bit of the border lined with gardens. What is my point, you ask? It is the skunk and how it was designed, not as a cuddly creature that one can make into a stripy pet to be embraced. The skunk is to be avoided and when you or I spot one, we stop dead in our tracks, and cautiously back away, or run after shrieking, while hoping the stinker isn't alerted to our presence or startled and irritated enough, to lift tail and aim in our direction. 

Dear reader ... there are some people that are odious, skunks in disguise. Birds, without being sprayed, instinctively know that skunks are somehow a threat, contain in them a hazardous waste stink, and that messing with them will make them odious too. What animals have in the form of instincts, humans have in the form of discernment, a skill that can be taught and learned, provided one is willing to pay attention to warning sounds and sights, and submit to wise instruction. Behaviour never lies, and skunks have a scent that is off putting. Since behaviour never lies, and skunks give off an odour that is off putting, I thought you and I could take a look at the tells of skunky people: 

Tells

1. They talk too much and when they listen, it is to snatch snippets of information for the sake of slander. 

You might get the feeling that you can trust them, or that they are treating you as a confident because you are special to them. Don't be fooled, they tell everyone everything, including what you have shared. Your gut warns, and you must heed, or get sprayed.  

2. They talk about other people in a critical manner, and share personal information that they have been asked to keep in confidence. 

This one piggy backs on #1. If someone is talking about other people and they appear to have more information then seems normal, know that they enjoy gossip and that you will be a topic of conversation soon enough. Make sure you do not follow suit by either joining in the criticizing, or repeating the gossip to someone else. Everyone gets a turn with this skunk, and the stink coats all participants eventually.

3. They hunt for information and ask questions to gather fodder for a gossip session and burn fest of those that trust them. 

By now you may see the layering effects of the skunky activities. They sniff around for something delicious to chew on; they add their own flavouring, misconstruing and misrepresenting, to defame anyone that has shared intimate details with them. They like nothing more, than to spread the stank when ever and where ever they can, while maintaining what looks like, a black and white innocence. 

4. When they have been caught speaking out of turn, or playing a role in lying and manipulating, they easily and quickly cover up their wrong doing with explanations of their innocency: they are smooth talkers. 

This one is tricky. If you are an honest sort of person, it is almost impossible to believe anyone can feign truth telling, while being utterly duplicitous. Facts and behaviours don't lie, and when two people get together and compare their personal notes regarding the experiences they have had with the skunk, they soon discover all the skunker's lies; once this occurs, and the skunk has caught wind of the truth about him being revealed, he will usually waddle away. He skunk may be out of sight, but let me tell you, his stench remains in the nostrils of the offended for a very long time; it is hard to de-stink once we have been sprayed. If you suspect someone is lying to you because they change their story or the details in their stories, then chances are good, you are dealing with a skunky liar. O, and if other people are treating you differently after spending time with the skunky manipulator, know that the stinker has been spreading their vile scentiments about you. 

5. They say what they think will get them closer to getting something they want: they use people to scratch an itch or fill a void or, to get a low down and dirty desire satisfied, at the expense of whomever it is they have latched onto and leeched off of. 

Skunks are needy greedy opportunists. They will ask more of you than they ought, and try to make you feel some sort of obligation to comply, when they think you are about to say no. If you feel compelled to do their bidding but would rather not, listen to your discernment - it is trying to protect you from over giving to someone that soaks others for their own benefit without a care in the world what it might cost you emotionally, spiritually, mentally, or physically. 

6. They are usurpers and peace thieves. They cause strife by undermining leaders and getting others to see the leader under the colour of disapproval, or by questioning the leaders decisions, morals, ethics, values ... they sow seeds and weeds of discord where none were previously. 

The skunk might actually admire you, and that may seem like a good thing, until you realize, they want what you have, and since they cannot have whatever it is they covet, they will do their damnedest to destroy what they admire. Taking down a strong person may make them feel powerful and brilliant, but it is a sign of a maliciousness that is deeply rooted and dangerous; dangerous for their own well-being, and dangerous for those that they want to tear apart. Talking behind someone's back and being kind to their face is quite the party trick, and people that do such things are devilishly devious. Make sure this kind of gal or guy does not have access to your backyard, front yard, or anywhere else you happen to be.   

7. They steal attention and spot light moments ... they cannot stand being outshone, or highlighting anyone else's abilities and achievements. 

The showboating skunkard gets drunk off of attention, and they adore themselves so much that they will do anything to have all eyes on them at all times. That feeling you get, the one where you feel as though you cannot flourish around them, is a warning that they will stunt your growth, clip your wings, stomp on your new beginnings, thwart your give it all efforts, throw rocks at your wheels, dirt in your eyes, and muddle your mind with their insatiable demands to be #1. This person throws shade on your shine because they cannot stand the light you emit, and they want to dull, dim, dismiss, and dash it to pieces. If you have been around someone like this, you know exactly what I speak of. Don't give them any thought or attention because that only feeds the beast in them. They are attention hogs, and this kind of skunky behaviour will not change unless of course, they get whacked hard with a humility stick. 

8. They lie. 

They tell untruths, omit facts, tell half truths, suggest things that cause doubt; state falsehoods as though they are an authority on whatever the subject happens to be ... it is kind of crazy to see this sort of skunk in action. They can be really convincing, and the more they talk, the more you ought to suspect somethings aren't making sense, or measuring up. Why do they need to convince with endless words, if what they are saying is true? 

9. They never say they are sorry.

If someone will not say they are sorry, they are a sorry excuse for a skunk. When a person will not say sorry, it is because they are not; it is that simple. 

10. They move on from one group to the next, repeating their performance, and growing their reputation as a skunk that ought to be circumvented, avoided, and prevented from making their rounds in trust circles. 

Skunks are unpopular, despite their adorable appearance. When a skunk enters an area, everyone watches almost breathlessly, while anticipating its departure. I have never heard of anyone rushing a skunk to get rid of him. We do not shoo shoo a skunk away, we wait for him to go. And this, is true of skunk like humans too: they cause such chaos, kick up such a fuss and stink, that they eventually waddle their way out of the vicinity to sniff out fresh ground, and new people to perpetrate against. If and when you inhale the pungant scent of spray, wafting your way in the air, I hope it gives you cause for pause, and time to make a quick decision to steer clear to keep the stank off you, and yours. 

I admit, this was a fun bit of writing for me: nature is an educator and the black bird brigade's behaviour when affronted by an unwelcome skunk in our mutually owned backyard, entertained me greatly. Animals have a certain something we as humans do not possess: they are candid, if I can use this word to describe them. Humans make excuses for their bad behaviour. Humans accommodate other humans that lie and kill and steal. Humans appropriate time and talent belonging to others, and some humans are very comfortable and content when they cause pain to their fellow man. It is a sorry state of affairs for humans to drop other humans dead onto the hard concrete, or for them to mislead people so that they lose their minds, their health, their employment, their homes. The black birds are territorial: humans act like tyrannical terrorists, despite their ability to reason and understand the golden rule of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12).

There are skunk like humans amongst us, roaming freely, unhindered and barely challenged, if at all. Skunks are God's creatures, and they have their place in the animal kingdom ... but human skunks will not be given entrance to the Kingdom of God. They will not waddle their way in where they do not belong, and you and I do not have to keep them company.  The stench is repugnant and almost unbearable, and dear one, you get to walk away, or run, when you see a skunk heading in your direction.