Ravens Steal Cat Food

Avalon has a lot of feral cats; some people see it as a curse, others like having them around. People get hot under the collar about the issue. This afternoon we went for a walk up the hill, and on the way we stopped up above a condo complex where we can usually look way down a steep bank and see a half-dozen or more cats by a shed and big storm pipe/sewer drain. No cats. Not a single one.

We walked up to an overlook near the Inn on Mount Ada, took in the gorgeous view, then headed back down the hill. On our way home, we noticed a friend walking out toward the cat spot with a small bucket in hand. It was filled with dry cat food. In just a minute or two, cats were coming out of the woodwork, or the bushes to be more exact, until there were at least a half-dozen kitties.

Then we heard a raven squawking and spotted it flying through the trees. It landed on a tree branch above the cat-feeding station and started making a different sounding call. Moments later another raven arrived. They dropped down to the shed’s roof. They hopped down to the edge. The cats scattered. Then one raven landed on a flat board sprinkled with cat food. It tipped its’ head to the side and started gulping down the dry cat food.

A minute later it took off and the other raven replaced it. A hurried meal, then that raven flew away and the cats finally got to feed. We watched for a moment, and then headed home. We hadn’t gone far when Arthur spotted two more cats way down below us in the bushes. It took us a minute to see that they were . . . ah, making more feral cats.

Catalina Island's golf cart of the week

Since golf carts are street legal in Avalon, people dress them up a bit. This beauty is from the Historic Hermosa Hotel.

Avalon - Community Bulletin Board

All the community news is posted at the bulletin board in the Post Office Arcade - an enclosed passageway between two buildings. The post office with everyone's mailbox (there is no mail delivery to your home), the hardware store and vacation rental and real estate offices are located in the big hallway.

Today, Lupita lost her stuffed animal. Lupita posted a picture on the bulletin board of her stuffed animal – a small gray creature with dark beady eyes (species undertermined). Her handwritten note says “It’s very special to me.” If anyone finds it, please return it to her.

Stranded and starving on Catalina Island

A slight exaggeration perhaps--but the passenger boats didn't run yesterday afternoon and evening because the wind was whipping and the water was rough. Temps in the high 40s, winds over 30mph. People who expected to get on the boat and head back to LA got stranded. Last night we went out to dinner at Steve's Steakhouse, and a group of about 30 stranded folks were there having dinner. Turns out they were in Avalon doing a photo shoot for Airwalk shoes. They really didn't seem to mind having to spend one more day on the island. I guess it's all part of the job.

The barge hasn't been able to make it here either, and when that happens, it doesn't take long before you start seeing empty shelves at the Vons grocery store. Bread disappears first, then fresh produce and dairy products.

One red flag this morning, but the clouds are gone and the sun is out. The snow on the mountains across the channel looks beautiful.

A Two Red Flag Day

Living in Catalina, you learn to pay attention to the weather flags out at the Cabrillo Mole and by the Harbor Master’s office at the Green Pier. With one red flag, the winds are up but passenger boats may still be going across the channel—although you can expect a bumpy ride. With two red flags, there’s little hope. Since today (Feb. 9th) marks the birthday of the U.S. National Weather Service, nature’s weather is partying hard. Right now the wind is up to 50 mph gusts, blowing misty rain, whitecaps outside of the harbor. Not the “sunny California” we all think about. Button down the hatches, bring the lawn furniture in, stay inside. Red flags, hot chocolate, and tea. But who knows, it could change at any moment.

Hummingbirds in Paradise

We love to watch the hummingbirds flutter from flower to flower--when they're not busy fighting. There are two species of hummers on Catalina Island -- the red headed Anna’s and the rusty colored Allen’s. Both are tiny – abut 3 ½ inches long. We put up a hummingbird feeder and it took the hummers about 20 minutes to find it. One hummer (a male Anna’s) has now claimed it for his own and guards it with his life. Just to let all other hummers know who's “king of the feeder” he sits on a lower branch where he can see in all directions and loudly makes a chi-chi-chi-chi-chi sound to pronounce his rightful territory. If another hummer comes in – he zings toward it with reckless abandon, sword-like beak at the ready. The hummers sometimes zing alarmingly close to us as if we weren’t there. You instinctivly pull away--Arthur spilled coffee on himself one morning. It’s a good thing hummers are small – if they were as big as ravens, we’d all be in trouble.

Catalina Island-style dog bed

Yesterday while walking up the long and winding road to the Inn on Mount Ada (formerly the Wrigley Mansion), we noticed an odd looking ATV headed our way. It just seemed way to big and bulky. As it got closer, we could see that there was some some of plywood box rigged on the front of the thing by the handlebars. When it got closer, we saw that there was no lid on the box, and the sides were only about 6"-12# high. It was a doggie bed, complete with a relaxed and happy golden lab, ears flapping in the breeze.