Abundance

The Uber Worm

While I will admit no fondness for the tireless tiller of the turf, and fertilizer of my garden soil -- to me they're just a little too snake-like for comfort -- I did have to admire the strength of the uber worm I saw this morning!  Early bird that I am (up before the sun), I happened to be sipping my morning coffee at the kitchen table when I spied not one, but TWO, robins having a tug-o-war with a very large, very round earthworm.  As I watched, I saw your (you should excuse the expression) garden-variety tug-o-war between these two rather stubborn birds:  give a yank; reshuffle the feet; get a yank; reshuffle the feet; give a yank; reshuffle the feet; etc. -- you get the idea.  I looked at the clock; it was 4:35 AM.  I was fascinated!  Neither robin would give up, each taking his/her turn (very tough to tell the difference at 4:35 in the morning) at trying to wrench the tasty morsel (okay, not quite a morsel but still smaller than a breadbox) from the other.  I looked at the clock again; 4:40 AM ... five minutes and still tugging away!  I couldn't turn away!!  How long would this last?  One has to wonder if robins strategize; if so, then M. or Mme. Gauche seemed to be gaining ... um ... worm as, with each yank, he/she seemed to pull a little more worm away from the other robin.  This continued on for another 6 minutes until, at last, poor uber worm gave up and ... uh ... split.  I will say that the strategy employed by M./Mme. Gauche certainly left him/her with the larger portion.  Poor worm.  M./Mme. Droite left with a smaller portion but dignity intact.

E