Monday, June 6, 2011

Momma Bird Returns

Last year when my husband and I returned home in June after being gone for most of the spring, we found a bird had built her nest on the porch side of the entryway to our house.  I must confess that I am not a fan of birds.  Who knows why I am this way.   Perhaps, Alfred Hitchcock put a fear of bird into my mind. I nearly panic and start screaming if a bird comes flying too close to me.  I like seeing birds in the wild, or even in yard. I love listening to them sing.  I have bird baths in the yard.  I just don't like them in my face or in my space.

That being said, I wasn't sure what to make the fact that a mother bird built her nest on my porch last year.  In someways, I was comforted to think she found my home a place of peace and safety.  I wrote about the birds who had taken up residency last year in a blog post.  You can read about it here, if you are interested.  Once the birds hatched and flown away, my husband took down the nest for me so I could reclaim our favorite spot to spend summer evenings.  There was a lot of clean-up to be done.  The birds had made quite a mess of our porch by the time they had all moved on.

After the nest removal last year, I hoped Mama Bird would move on to some other prime piece of property this year.  That didn't happen.  About five weeks ago, I noticed she had built another nest in the exact same location.  In fact, she had crafted her new nest and laid her eggs before I even realized she was there.  We seldom use the front porch or the front door during the winter and early spring, so I guess not only did she establish residency during a time when things were quiet in her selected spot, but she also was able to take up her new home without us even noticing.

I'm not one to disturb a nest.  I let her stay, but I still went about my business of getting the front porch ready for summer use.  She would fly away when I showed up and would cry from the nearby tree until I quickly left her in peace.  She finally allowed us to keep the front door open so we could see her nesting while we were inside the house.  We could even walk by the door inside of the house without her flying off.

Then, a few days ago, my husband and I went out and bought all of our annuals to be planted for the year.  As is our practice, we deposited on the front porch until we could get them planted.  She was not at all happy with our constant use of the porch on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

I noticed she was no longer hovering quite as close to the house, nor was she sitting in the nest on Sunday.  I thought perhaps she had abandoned it.  Feeling bad about that possibility, I opened the front door this morning so I could watch the nest for any activity as I ate my breakfast.  No Momma Bird appeared.  Then, after a short while, I noticed a tiny little head poke up above the edge of the nest.  "Oh, we have babies," I thought.  "The eggs have hatched."  Soon, Momma Bird flew up to the nest with breakfast and began feeding her brood.  My heart was relieved.  I was so afraid she had abandoned her nest because I had invaded her space too frequently.

Now, we probably have a week or two before we can reclaim our porch completely again.  I will be spending my morning breakfast time watching the new babies grow as they get ready to go out into the world.

21 comments:

  1. I'm glad all is well. As for the Hitchcock movie .... I had nightmares for weeks!

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  2. I'm glad things turned out okay for the mama bird and her babies. We have a retractable awning over part of our deck in the back and it is late every summer before we can use it because a bird builds a nest in a corner of it every year.

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  3. I'm glad things turned out okay for the mama bird and her babies. We have a retractable awning over part of our deck in the back and it is late every summer before we can use it because a bird builds a nest in a corner of it every year.

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  4. So lovely. I understand your concern, and you are definitely gaining a few angel points somewhere! :-)

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  5. Hi Sally,
    You asked when I'd be leaving for Yellowstone. To be perfectly honest we've been in Yellowstone since June 1st. We were incommunicado without wifi/TV/cellphone connection all this time.
    We've just arrived in Rapid City, SD and got on line for a bit.
    It's been super hectic with my mom, aunt, daughter, and granddaughter. We were on the road for 10 hours today. I'm off to bed now.
    I've pre-posted posts for the next nine days because I didn't think I'd have time to post while on the move and also so that I wouldn't alert any ne'er-do-wells.
    Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. :-) Kay

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  6. Sounds like Mrs. Bird thinks she owns the place! I'm glad the babies have hatched safely and hope you get to see them. We've had a bird of some kind nesting under our back deck (It's a high deck) for the past two summers. What a mess she makes on her favorite perch, a plant hanger on the porch steps railing. We'd intended to cover her nesting spot with chicken wire this spring, to force her to nest elsewhere, but we were too late: nest with eggs before we even realized she'd returned. Maybe next year I'll get back my deck stairs.

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  7. I sense a budding bird lover here. She is getting to you.
    She will return each year and use that spot as long as she can breed. Just think, as she is traveling all those miles, pumping her wings into the wind, your front porch is firmly fixed in her mind. Rather flattering I think.

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  8. I had yellow jackets on my front porch all last summer. (Thankfully, they have not reappeared this year.) So, consider yourself lucky!

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  9. This birth coming on the heels of your daughter's service seems like a happy coincidence. Watch and enjoy life unfolding.

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  10. I have been catching up on your last 3-4 posts, and it has been quite a challenging time for you. You write with very heartfelt and profound emotions. God bless you and your family.
    In reference to the robin that appeared last year, and returned this year...kind of a rebirth in your personal space. Maybe she can bring a smile and a song your way.

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  11. Most birds return to their previous nests if possible. We once had a robin build a nest in the gutter. She tried for several years after that to do the same. I love bird watching so long as they are not directly overhead after visiting a mulberry tree. :-)

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  12. I love watching birds. My Sister-in-law had a bird make a nest in her hanging plants on her front porch. Amazing little creatures aren't they? They left behind a perfectly round tightly woven nest. It is one of nature's miracles in my eyes. Thanks for sharing. Blessings, Joanne

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  13. Glad she came back. I guess that she thought she was moving into a secluded estate into a busy apartment complex! She must trust you guys a bit; how fun to have some baby birds right out the front door, even if they are messy.

    I hope that your week is wonderful.

    Kathy M.

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  14. It is fun to watch them...mine were not in a spot where I had to deal with their mess (o: so that was a good thing. This year we have no babies to watch...kind of sad.

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  15. It's amazing what we'll do for the wild things that find their way into our lives. Last summer we watered very carefully around the nest a pair of juncoes had built in a geranium basket.

    Really wonderful story.

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  16. I think you DO like the birds, you know!
    What a charming story.
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  17. That sounds like you have a yearly guest! So glad she stayed!

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  18. You never know - you may watch for her to arrive next year!

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  19. Or, to paraphrase Sally Field, "She likes you!" I once had babies on the wreathe by my kitchen window -- I wanted desperately to take down the wreath as the warm June made the kitchen stifling and of course, couldn't. But the five babies made it all worthwhile! And they do fly away!

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  20. That is so cool. You get to watch them grow and fly away.

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