The spud was telling me about how she saw Duncan (the farm cat) catch and eat a finch.
Spud: Duncan caught two finches. He ate them while they were still moving.
Me: Yeah, that is sometimes how it happens in the wild.
Spud: I tried to save one of the little birds. After all, it’s part of the farm economy.
Me, after laughing heartily picturing the economy of finches and barn cats on the farm: I’m sorry Spud, that just struck me as really funny. But, I think you mean ecology, not economy. Economy is more about finances and money, like I practice economy when I plan a budget and am careful about how I spend my money. Economy is also about the financial state of a group. Ecology is about nature and how animals and plants are interrelated.
Spud: I thought that was the ecosystem.
Me: Yes, they are kind of related. You could say ecology is the study of an ecosystem. It’s good you know what an ecosystem is, though.
Janie's Place 