Mockingbirds and Windy Days
We have a pair of mocking birds that built a nest right outside my front door, in two potted ficus trees that happened to tangle together near their leafy tops. They were such a joy to watch as they built the nest. Somewhere, they found fluffy cotton and old Christmas tinsel. I also laid some cotton batting out for them to use; I was flattered when they took me up on my offering.
They laid their eggs and soon thereafter four little babies began tweeting. Mommy and Daddy having been working tirelessly to feed them. And, as the days pass the entire little bird family has become more and more comfortable with our presence. The adult birds no longer take off when we come in and out the front door. And, they no longer squawk at me when I am out working in the flowerbed.
They have even been OK with me taking pictures.
Here are pictures of the four babies yesterday. I agree with my daughter that their open mouths look like exotic flowers.
Last night we had an unusually cold night and very stiff winds. I went out to check the nest this morning and found it very titled. I also found one of the four babies had slipped out and its neck had become caught in between two little branches. It was dead. I felt quite saddened.
Evn more alarming was that the adult birds seemed to be avoiding the next while it had a dead baby in it. So, I put on gloves and got a long stick. I carefully moved around the branches until the baby fell into my hand. The, I dug a hole in one of my flower beds and gave him a little burial.
I wrnt back and did my best to jiggle things around to right the nest. As soon as I was finished, the adults came back and began feeding the remaining three babies
I’m honred to be able to watch all of this so close. And, even though the death of the 4th baby was heart breaking, it gives me a personal look at nature.
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