The other day, I was out front chatting with a neighbour, when I noticed a bit of a crime scene in the grass.

Judging by the length of the feathers, we figured it was a Mourning Dove. Now… there are a couple of suspects when it comes to bird murder around here. We’ve got a variety of raptors – hawks, eagles, falcons. And of course, a pile of neighbourhood cats. Fryburger, who lives across the street, is a precision birder.

But… as we were chatting… suspect number one came sauntering up…

And yes….

That’s some very compelling evidence hanging out of his mouth (and there was literal blood on his paws) Still… to remove all chance of reasonable doubt… I reviewed our security footage. The feathers were actually the secondary scene. The victim was assaulted in the front garden… then carried off to the secondary scene where disection and consumption occured. And yes.. it was a mourning dove.

It just makes this plaque I found at the thrift store last year, all the more apropos.