While Nanny, our previous Newfoundland, was alive the Noisy Minor birds displayed no fear of us. We could walk within two to three feet of them without their flying away. After Nanny passed away last May, even though they have been sharing the table scraps we gave them, and the Magpies, the slightest movement from us within eight to ten yards of them and they would fly away.

Nanny used to eat her evening meal very slowly, almost glacial, much to the annoyance of our Dalmatian, Peggy, who would always eat hers double quick and would be waiting to do the “washing-up”. While Nanny raised her head to chew her food or stare down the paddock, a Noisy Minor would hop onto the edge of Nanny’s dish for a few quick bites. As Nanny would lazily take another mouthful the Noisy Minor would hop back to make room for our Newfoundland’s massive head. They had no fear of her! Even their nests were constructed from dry grass and lots of Newfoundland hair!

Now that we have a Newfoundland puppy with us again, the Noisy Minors have become tolerant of us once more. We are now walking within a few feet of them. There are several possible explanations that I can think of. Maybe they believe that if a Newf, even a baby one named Liquorice, accepts us then we should be judged favorably by the company we keep. Possibly the Noisy Minors view Liquorice as the local, and expanding, building materials suppler. Or, with the coming of Liquorice, they may sense a lessening of the tension and stress that health problems have brought to our home, and which had increased since the passing of Nanny and Peggy.

Just another pleasant change since Liquorice joined our home.

Arthur Witten
Liquorice