Scanning my surroundings
With eyes designed to detect movement
They see me before I see them
Unless I remain motionless
Watching me as I approach
Not wanting to be objects of my attention
Aware of me and me aware of them
Assessing my threat level
I point my camera and shoot
Hoping to capture their image
Quickly taking my chance
To record a beautiful moment
Before they duck out of sight
Evidently feeling unsafe
Making decisions and acting on them
Like any sentient being
I may not have a gun
But I am of a predator species
And I am hunting just the same
So they take no chances with me
Smart thinking in the wild
Unlike domesticated animals
Looking at people as caretakers
Expecting food will be provided
We feed our backyard birds
Who recognize us and wait patiently
Perched in the adjacent trees
While we refill the seeds and suet
They are our pets as we call them
Though we are inside and they are out
Except for the bold chickadees who greet us
First to come to snatch a seed
