I currently camp at the edge of a large field. I know of three good places to set up a tent in the area. Site A is where we usually sleep. Sites B and C are back up sites that we retreat to during inclement weather.
Site A is more isolated. There is a great deal more foot traffic near sites B and C. So, site A is a better site in terms of privacy and security because of the isolation.
But another reason we prefer site A is because there is a large coyote pack in the area and it rarely comes near site A. At site C, I hear them repeatedly throughout the night and routinely hear them make up to three kills a night, sometimes scarily close to the tent. This is frightening enough that it has given me nightmares on occasion.
When we showed up at site A, the area was pretty pathetic. After years of drought, it just wasn't very lively.
There is a large bird that routinely perches near site A. Its wingspan is something like three to six feet. (I don't see well and, of the three of us, my oldest son has gotten the best look at the bird and he is terrible with both numbers and estimating size.)
It is not a turkey vulture. It is not bald and does not have a red head. We tried to look it up. We think it might be a golden eagle, but I don't know much about birds, so I don't really know.
We nicknamed the bird Big Bird Bully because, when we arrived, it was very aggressive about defending its territory. It spent a lot of time shrieking, which is a means to stake a territorial claim and drive off competitors for its food that are the same species.
So, we showed up and began regularly peeing on the only two trees near site A to try to encourage them to flourish and provide more visual cover for the tent. We do this routinely. Urine provides vital nutrients and life giving moisture to plants. California has been ravaged by drought for several years now. This always makes a big difference to the plant life where we camp.
When we arrived at site A, one tree was so covered in lichen, we thought it might be dead. But, we peed on these trees for months, then retreated to sites B and C for a few weeks to get through the coldest, wettest part of the year. Then we returned to site A.
Having been peed on for months and then getting rain during the rainy season, the seemingly dead tree grew a whole new section and sprouted berries. Small birds set up nests in it. The plant life in the area flourished and small rodents can now be heard in the underbrush when I walk home.
A few weeks ago, Big Bird Bully stopped shrieking all the time and stopped aggressively defending its territory. In fact, it got company. Several other birds of its species have taken up residence in a nearby copse of trees. With the area becoming more vibrant and with plenty to eat, Big Bird Bully did a complete 180 on its behavior.
Here lately, we hear the coyotes even less than we used to at site A. We think this is not mere coincidence.
When we were trying to figure out what species Big Bird Bully is, we learned that golden eagles will eat small deer and foxes. There are deer in the area and this seems to be what the coyotes primarily eat. I believe coyotes are similar in size to foxes, so presumably they are at risk of being eaten by Big Bird Bully if caught out wandering alone.
So we think the coyote pack is so large because it helps defend the coyotes against Big Bird Bully. And now Big Bird Bully has friends.
After having done some reading on golden eagles, we now think both deer and the coyotes that prey upon them tend to avoid this field because it is the hunting grounds for Big Bird Bully and they are potentially on the menu. And now there are several big birds of the same species at this end of the field.
We believe the birds are kind of serving a protective function for us. It's been a really cool experience.