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   I find it interesting to observe how animals communicate with each other and with humans. From the porch, drinking coffee in the mornings, I can watch as a doe walks over the dam down toward the water. She will pause and look around as though checking for any danger and in some manner communicate with her fawn to come to her. The fawn will suddenly appear from the tall grass, come to its mother, and begin nursing. A few minutes later when she starts to walk away, the fawn will try to follow. In some manner, she lets it know to go hide and the baby goes back into the tall grass. If the doe makes a sound in communicating instructions to the fawn, it is inaudible to humans.

   The birds in our yard have a less subtle form of communication, especially when it comes to letting the humans know what they want. If the dish of grape jelly is empty, the orioles will look toward the house and scold loudly until their dish is re-filled. As soon as I fill the dish, they go to eating and fighting among each other, completely ignoring us. They made their point and got their way. Hummingbirds are even more blatant. When their sugar water is gone or soured from being in the heat too long, they will fly to the nearest person and hover about two feet away. They then stare directly into the eyes of a person they think should re-fill the hummingbird feeder. It is hard to ignore a tiny bird that is trying its best to convince you that it is starving.

   Dogs are famous for their ability to communicate with humans. Billie, the poodle, communicates his needs to us so well, we have decided he has us trained. If my wife or I happen to mention the word “go” in even a casual conversation, he immediately starts with the sad eyes routine. He is able to communicate the fact that he is a good dog, and he would enjoy going along. It does not matter where we are going or what we plan to do, he would come along and be ever so helpful. He also lets us know when it is 5 p.m. That is the time he gets a treat. His sense of time is impeccable.  Within a minute or two of the appointed hour, he will stand by the appropriate cupboard and look from us to the cupboard door until somebody performs their duty of getting his snack. Jag, the terrier, also has us trained. Anyone outside from 6 p.m. on will be treated to Jag spinning in circles as he works his way toward the garage. This is his way to communicate it is time to eat. We are supposed to let him in the garage and fill his food dish. He has even learned to lie. He may convince my wife to feed him early and then later tell me that he is starving to death. Sometimes his deception works, and he gets fed twice.

   I discovered a few days ago, insects can even communicate with people. I was helping my wife prune some bushes. I grabbed a handful of stems and cut them off. A wasp flew out of the bush and let me know he did not want his bush trimmed and stung me on the back of my hand. My hand quickly swelled up like an inflated rubber surgical glove. I quickly realized what he was trying to tell me.

   All animals seem to communicate in some form or another. Some we can understand and others we cannot. Some, like the wasp, can make a point quickly and effectively. I left him alone.

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