• lath@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Funny(?) bird story:

    There was this bird chirping constantly, flying here and there, even close to me while harassing some nonchalant cat licking or nibbling on some food it found. I’m thinking maybe the cat caught the bird’s partner, hence the distraint, so I chase the cat off. Then I search for remains like some feathers, but find nothing. I say sorry to the bird and move on with my day quite sad.

    Couple hours later, same bird comes back, beak full with twigs for a nest and a partner sporting the same. They look around and chirp for a bit, then fly off together.

    So now I can’t help but wonder, did the bird use me to scare the cat away from their nesting area?

      • lath@lemmy.world
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        7 hours ago

        Distraint or distress is “the seizure of someone’s property in order to obtain payment of rent or other money owed”, especially in common law countries.

        It’s an older word, but I used it poorly.