It's strange weather time here in northeast Texas. It was 64 degrees at 6:00 a.m. with an expected high for the day of 54. I think The Weather Channel is a bit off on their forecast. By this evening we will be in the low 30's if they get that part correct.
Wide weather swings are hard on cattle and other animals who live out in it. We have had rain the last few days that wasn't heavy, but was persistent. Now, with a day of clearing, we get a 30 degree swing in temperature.
This is also the beginning of calving season for many cow herds in this area. I'm sure that with the cold front pushing through there will be new babies born and their first wobbly steps will be cold ones. Their mother will lick them dry and nudge them to get up and find the source of warm nourishment they vitally need. Then they will lead them to a protected place and let them lie down and rest for a short while before making them get up again and nurse. The process of leading them to a protected place is critical because it forces that newborn to gain control of those thin sticks underneath them so they will be better able to escape predators which might be lurking nearby.
If there is wind with the cold front that is also helpful because scavengers like the Black or, Mexican Vulture, have a more difficult time detecting the scent and are less likely to attack the cow and calf. Coyotes rarely will go after a newborn unless it is injured, or the mother had difficulty in the birthing process and is unable to defend it. They may watch from a short distance, but unless a "sure" opportunity is presented, they typically will move on in pursuit of a small rodent or, some other meal.
Black Vultures, on the other hand, if they spot a cow in the birthing process, will surround her in large numbers and try to kill the baby -- even before it is completely delivered. They will drive the cow to distraction, sometimes causing her to step on the calf and injure it. They may remain around the cow and newborn for hours after birth until hopefully, the cow is able to get the calf up and moving to safety in the brush where the birds are less able to get to it. Often, she is totally exhausted by that time. In this area, a large percentage of calves lost at birth fall to the vultures.
I suppose this isn't really a subject most people want to read about on their Saturday morning. It's not enjoyable to think about, but it is the way the world works. There are predators and vultures at every turn trying to take advantage of the helpless and defenseless. One of the worst was recently removed from a high position in the Iranian military. The event seems to have disturbed a bunch of other vultures -- many of which are in our nation's capital. They are ones whose predatory ways could be stopped by the voters in their home districts. It's too bad the people who keep them in power are deluded into believing they should remain in office.
On a related subject, the behavior I saw on videos of the signing of papers of impeachment really did remind me of vultures. They surround and look for every opportunity to pounce on the one who ordered that one of their own be removed from this earth. I guess when you think about it in those terms it makes more sense that they would behave in the manner they do.
Vultures have a place in nature. The Black Vultures are an invasive species in this country. The vultures in Washington are an invasive species in this land of freedom -- they want to take our freedom away. Black Vultures are also prolific. It seems there are more and more of them every year. The same thing is happening with the DC vultures. Maybe that's what they should re-name their football team since everyone has been up-in-arms about calling them the Redskins. The "Washington Vultures" would be an appropriate name for the team which represents those in power...
I didn't intend to get political when I started out this morning....
