Today was a lucky day! I had heard a few very loud shotguns not far from the house. Not a common sound thankfully but always a little alarming as I am not a meat eating taker of lives and as such don’t relish the sound of others doing so either.
Within 15 minutes of hearing the shots, a family of four Crested Guan alighted in some trees very close by. In an instant they made me realize that they were probably what the hunter was shooting at. They are large heavy birds, not unlike turkeys and are not illegal to hunt - unlike most everything else here which is protected.
They stayed quietly in the trees preening their feathers through the shower of rain that was falling and stayed longer still when the sun came out to dry their plumage and relax in the peace and sanctuary of the garden.
I heard a couple more shots in the distance but was happy at least that this beautiful family of majestic birds were safe for today at least.
