More summer mowing notes

[DrRod]

chucko, I think the reason is that they don't exactly know what a tractor is -- having evolved before the tractor made its appearance.

I have found the same effect with deer and my ATV. If they don't smell you they aren't sure what you are. I've had them watch me and start walking toward me out of curiosity -- sort of saying "what is that" in deer posture. If you have a helmet that masks your face, they really have no idea what you are.

 

[anthonyk]

I've had similar experiences, and it's been fun to watch.
The best though, was just last week, when a really huge , magnificent, hawk swooped down and perched on a dead tree about 75 feet from where I was mowing. I'd noticed an occasional mouse or rat run from the mowing before and, apparently, so had he. He watched for a bit, and I kept an eye on him, and then-whoosh! He came down like a fighter jet, and there's one less mouse in my field!
That was some treat! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anthony

 

[Bird]

I've had similar experiences, too, Anthony, but not with the baby hawk and baby rabbit. When I was cutting hay, it was quite common to see a hawk watching from a nearby tree, and to see one swoop down, quite some distance from me, to catch a rat or mouse in the already mowed areas. But the funniest one I got to see was when I had no idea there was a hawk around, but I looked back and saw a big rat running just ahead of the left end of the haybine. I don't know how long he stayed just barely ahead of the cutters, but I got to laughing because all he had to do to avoid being chopped up was to turn left 6 inches. Well, he finally did turn left, and instantly a hawk swooped in and got him right at the end of the haybine. It just wasn't his day.