Day 2

In chapter two of my battle against my feathered nemesis, I feel completely beaten. I’ve got a doppelgänger of the serpent Kaa hanging above my crops, a scarecrow made of old clothes that looks pretty creepy, and last night I added a toy cat. I had forgotten I even had it. It looks so realistic and cute that even some neighborhood cats have fallen for it. At this point, my garden looks like a wax museum.

I always put a lot of effort into making my vegetable garden look nice—not like the O’Haras’ turnip field. Emulating nature isn’t easy, but I’m happy with the results. I’ve never had so many "visitors" in the garden: bees, butterflies, dragonflies, lizards, and… stubborn blackbirds, of course.

So, early this morning, I stepped into the garden fearing the worst, but everything looked neat and tidy. I also put some aluminum foil among the lettuce. It gives gives the garden the flair of a paranoid farmer's garden, but I don' care, I'm desperate. After that, I got about watering my green babies.

Soon after —surprise, surprise— the blackbird perched on a big branch, just two feet away from the snake, right in front of me, so I sprayed it hard with the hose, and it quicky flew away.

If that doesn't work, I'm getting a drone. This bird is too clever for me to declare victory yet, but it seems hesitant about coming back—fingers crossed. I’m so relieved that I’m thinking of making a special dinner to celebrate: “smashed potatoes shaped like Devil's Tower".

P.S No celebration tonight. I just heard it step onto the aluminum foil.