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Atop my Hill 7/6/2014 4:12:57 AM
wacky bird capers
We were waiting for the yearly wacky bird caper and it has now become a reality.
The second year after we moved to Oklahoma the sound of hysterical birds brought us to the front window where a mostly non feathered little bird hopped valiantly away from the greedy cats trying their best to snag him.
Returning him to the nest didn't help, he climbed back to edge and toppled to the ground. Husband hung a cat carrier in the tree, in went the nest, in went the bird, and parents sat near by, feeding was done through the wire door. Eventually the little lad grew his feathers, we opened the door, Ma and Pa chuckled him out and into the tree and with a mighty scream he rose, took flight and away they went.
The first year after we moved to the rock house the sound of hysterical birds brought us to our feet and out the door, there on the ground were 5 hatchlings and a circle of smiling cats.
Dad dive bombed me repeatedly, my bloody forehead was testament to the strength of his beak. Mom watched silent as I pocketed the babies, and climbed the ladder Husband had brought from the barn. The nest was high in the tree.
I'm not sure what it is with these birds, they apparently had not read the page on nest building, it was sturdy in appearance, however, it was full of holes. The hatchlings had simply slipped from the nest and down to the ground.
Necessity is the mother of invention, sending Husband to the house to my lingerie drawer I waited for a pair of panty hose. Into the panty itself went the nest, the legs served to tie it to the tree.
Why the man grabbed a pair of PINK I have yet to fathom. Through it all Dad was dive bombing my forehead, Mom was waiting patiently. Into the nest went the fledglings.
Mom approached, looked it over, declared it dandy, and entered her nest with snarls to Dad to quit his playing and go get food.
For several years many nests in the yard sported shreds of pink among their building materials.
The following year Ma and Pa had apparently finally looked over the page regarding nest building. Their new nest was stronger than most, no holes and, about 4 feet off the ground. The sound of hysterical birds found two muttering adult humans charging out the door to face the newest challenge.
The cats smiling on the ground, and lots of little feathers told the miserable tale. One little fledging remained. Up went the cat carrier, in went the little prince, Ma and Pa sat in the tree nearby, feeding took place through the wire door until he was fully feathered.
Ma ordered him out when we opened the door, and up the tree he went hopping branch to branch.
One year we had a wonderful weaver nest in the tree just beyond the patio. The nest was ripped from the tree in a huge wind through no fault of the birds at all.
Sadly I saw the nest laying on the ground and thought it best to wait for wind and lashing rain to cease when the nest sprouted tiny legs through the downward facing opening and began moving slowly, blindly along the grass.
Two tiny birds glared at me as I tried to secure their nest to the tree, didn't work, up went the cat carrier, in went the nest and tiny birds. Mom and Dad took up residence atop the carrier, feeding through the door went on for some days until we noticed little birds flying briskly in their cage. Away they all flew as quickly as we opened the door.
Last summer the sound of many hysterical birds signaling SNAKE brought husband and I to our feet. Had to be Rosie, the cats were all in the house or in the storehouse.
Birds were flying from back of house to front. I looked up at the roof, couldn't see a thing, Husband joined me in the front of the house. Neither of us saw anything on the roof, the birds were beginning to mock us and use foul language, we were just ready to call it quits and leave the birds to their own devices when I chanced a glance toward the huge oak standing in front of the house.
Odd looking branch hanging over Husband's head began drooping closer to his person. Luckily old army LERRP training kicked into gear when I ordered, Sarge, don't look up, take a big step back now!
Rosie dangled nearly her entire 10 feet toward the sidewalk.
And, finally the wait is over.
As I approached the front Iris -Lily bed the Stellar Jay parents were hysterical. Nary a cat in sight.
Hmm. Ah, a tiny blue lad, no tail feathers yet, so not likely trying to fly, must have fallen from the nest. Didn't see any. Managed to snag the little beast, and set in on a branch with big sweeping movements so Ma and Pa could see where their wayward child was waiting.
Hysteria continued. As I walked around the bed toward the pasture side, there sat a second little lad. Why not?
Life is complete, the yearly bird caper has taken place we can get on with the rest of summer.
