Jill listens intently

Artist: Lenny La Rue, IPA
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Jill listens intently

Jill and I had a MAJOR breakthru last week! I went to see her in the shelter of Cone Grove but she wasn’t there. I walked out a bit to where she’s usually hiding if not in the grove and she was munching dried weeds in the middle of Weedy Field. I called to her and once she knew it was me, she resumed eating without fear, letting her ears rise to hear for threats from elsewhere. I watched her for a while and took a pile of pictures (not really photographs as I was aiming to see what she was eating with no effort to capture anything else well.

I saw that she wasn’t going to be leaving any time soon so I went back into Cone Grove and restocked the sunflower seeds I saw her munching once before before returning to the new hummingbird feeder to refill it. But I heard a crunch behind me and it was Jill who had followed me into the Grove! I was blown away and she was freaked: so scared her eyes were open painfully wide, her ears were aimed at me for the slightest sign she needed to leave, and she was faced towards the easiest way out of the Grove. But she was THERE and she had obviously followed me in! I was so happy I did my usual ‘freeze completely and talk to her softly’ thing. I about a minute, she relaxed (as usual) and went to the sunflower seeds, looking up at me. I had to laugh but gave her the usual encouraging sounds and she began eating – like a HOG! Good grief, I thought she’d dropped her bunnies already. LOL! I’m almost positive she did but maybe she’s hungry from the feeding of her ‘hare batch’.

I sat down without her even stopping to get ready to run (as she usually does), got the Nikon D80 out, and got it focused on her as she ate. I turned off the auto focus to make less noise and disturb her less but she got so used to the sound of the shutter that I turned the auto focus back on and enjoyed the company. Less than 6 feet away from me, a wild jack rabbit was eating from the food I’d originally put out for Towhees and completely calm! Woo hoo!

When she’s finished, I talked to her and she looked at me with the most relaxed and interested eyes I’ve seen on anything other that lizards and squirrels – way more intent and intelligent that blue jays, the turkey, and Towhees. This is a shot of Jill listening to me talk to her. I hope to get closer still with some carrots and her continuing to follow me soon. But WOW!!!

Jill listens intently belongs to the following groups:

All That Is Nature, Cutest of the Cute, Everyday Life, Happy Haven, Kairos - Capturing the Decisive Moment, Live, Love, Dream, Rabbit, rabbit!, The Eyes Have It and The Urban Environment

Lori Peters, 4 months ago

So sweet, Lenny. it’s great that you care so much for animals.
Lenny La Rue, IPA, 4 months ago

Thanks, Lori! I care for life in general. I just happen to like animals the most. LMAO!
LindaR, 4 months ago

love this capture ~ she is looking right at you with her lashed eyes and the light in her ears ~ so great!! The story is a keeper too ~ fab all around ~ a fav for me :)
Lenny La Rue, IPA, 4 months ago

Thanks, Linda! She really does look like a darling female with those lashes, doesn’t she? LOL! I would have composed the shot significantly higher so remove that blown out patch behind those ears but I was afraid to move that much and settled for a number of shots at the same angle.

I sure wish I knew how much she understood what I was saying. With her head tilted like that, I think she got a lot more than she’ll let on to. LOL! Thanks also for the favouriting!
Carla Jandelle..., 4 months ago

Lenny Lenny LENNY! i didn’t realize she was a jack rabbit! ooooo lucky u!
sweetscent62, 4 months ago

Awww… how lovely Lenny!! : ) it’s not surprising Jill finds you so interesting… a beautiful shot! Wen xox
CATNIPMEOW, 4 months ago

perfect capture !
Lenny La Rue, IPA, 4 months ago

And a big thank you to the three of you as well! Sorry for the late reply but I’ve had weather over me for a bit. (“Under the weather” for those who solely utilize linear thinking) ;-) Yes, Jill is a completely wild jack rabbit who has befriended me after I discovered her resting in the Cone Grove section of Weedy Field. Since that rather startling meeting, she’s started trusting me when I make a series of lip smacks and soft words. I first knew she understood them when I accidentally startled her months ago and asked her to stop running with a few ‘smacks’ and a louder voice. She stopped running instantly and eventually did the ‘puppy rolling in the dirt behaviour’.

These days she won’t run from me but still freezes when I’m close-by and don’t notice she’s there – probably just an automatic response. If she returns to Weedy Field with or without her brood, I’ll have her eating from my hand before winter, and certainly after winter starts! :-D
EnPassant, 2 months ago

What a lovely story Lenny. Some of our best moments are when observing wild creatures.
Mundy Hackett, 2 months ago

Great story, and what a fabulous image! Those ears are impressive!
Lenny La Rue, IPA in reply to EnPassant’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks! Yes, this was a very special time for me!
Lenny La Rue, IPA in reply to Mundy Hackett’s comment, 2 months ago

The ears are just wild! I’m glad you liked the story. There’s a new chapter coming soon and it was unexpected…
Gili Orr, 2 months ago

Great story, indeed! And she looks at you (almost) lovingly…
Crockpot, 2 months ago

Wow – that’s amazing!! Thanks for feeding and taking care of her – AND for sharing this amazing pic!!
funkyfacestudio, about 1 month ago

This is fantastic ! he he he look at those ears ha ha ha what a cutie pie…..................you get some great animal close ups….......are you Snow White or something ? ;) just a little singing and they come running ….........or hopping ;)
LoisBryan, about 1 month ago

Wonderful, fun shot!!! Congratulations on your Feature in All That Is Nature!!!
Arlene Zapata, about 1 month ago

Great story! I only saw a jack rabbit once. They don’t hang out in urban areas much. Adorable pic too!
Ozcloggie, about 1 month ago

Love the description of your meeting with her.
Lenny La Rue, IPA in reply to Gili Orr’s comment, about 1 month ago

We have a bond in a very unusual way and she’s completely unafraid of me now. I guess meeting a pregnant rabbit bonds her to you. LOL!
Lenny La Rue, IPA in reply to Crockpot’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you very much! I think she’ll get even closer once the weather changes and food becomes more scarce. It would be a dream come true to have her hop up and take something directly from my hand. :-)
Lenny La Rue, IPA in reply to funkyfacestudio’s comment, about 1 month ago

LOL! Take a LONG look at the picture of me again. More like a bald Cinderella well after ‘pumpkin time’. :-D

I’ve started a “face-to-face” collection of animal shots because they do seem to find my face interesting for some strange reason. And I can’t sing well enough to call hogs to feed but I’ve learned how to whistle about three patterns well enough to tell individual birds and a few squirrels that I’m about; crows, scrub blue jays, and hummingbirds will either reply or come to me for something tasty. The hummingbirds can be scary tho since they arrive silently and usually within less than a foot of my nose!

However, I’m now called Dr. Doolittle from the hurt/sick pigeon episode recounted in a journal entry. I’m rather proud of that too. LOL!
Lenny La Rue, IPA in reply to LoisBryan’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you and I am honoured. :-)
Lenny La Rue, IPA in reply to Arlene Zapata’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you very much! Unfortunately, Jill’s area used to be many acres of open spaces but most of it has been developed recently and more of the animals I’ve never seen before are moving around. Weedy Field is the first place they see coming from the west.

Downtown Chicago has been developed long enough so most jack rabbits have probably pulled up their paws long ago and moved into the places like where you shot that great horse photo!
Lenny La Rue, IPA in reply to Ozcloggie’s comment, about 1 month ago

It was fun to see it happen and we’re still friends so hopefully there are more and closer shots to come!