You really won't appreciate this post unless you read the one titled: Mayhem On A Saturday Morning first.
This picture is where we left our 2 little survivors; in a plastic bucket hanging from a branch in a tree a few feet from my deck. They seemed quite content, but Mama Robin, also known as a kamakazi bird, was constantly attacking Iggy, our dog. She would swoop so low, I was afraid he was going to catch her. That would have been all I needed; an injured or dead mama and then I would have to feed them. No, no, no.
My good friend, Lynne, suggested I poke holes in the bottom of the bucket so they wouldn't drown if it rained. What a smart lady she is!
Okay, now we are all set. Holes in bottom, birds in bucket and Mama gets in bucket also because it is starting to rain. It rained pretty hard and I am praying that they don't drown or fall or anything. Every time I let Iggy out, I checked to see if the bucket was still hanging. It was.
In the morning, everything seemed okay. Mama was still trying to bombard the dog and the birds were both alive and dry. I know, because I checked by taking the bucket dawn and then hanging it back. I kept a wary eye on Mama.
The next night it didn't just rain, it was a downpour with wind, hail and lightning. I was feeling bad for them, even though they were in a tree with branches over them. Kalisha was worried about them. Every time I looked out, the bucket was there. Right before I went to bed, I checked one more time. The bucket was no longer hanging in the tree. It was setting upright on the ground. Just like someone had taken it down and placed it there. But....it was empty. (I took this picture later, when the sun was shining, in case you are wondering)
This picture is where we left our 2 little survivors; in a plastic bucket hanging from a branch in a tree a few feet from my deck. They seemed quite content, but Mama Robin, also known as a kamakazi bird, was constantly attacking Iggy, our dog. She would swoop so low, I was afraid he was going to catch her. That would have been all I needed; an injured or dead mama and then I would have to feed them. No, no, no.
My good friend, Lynne, suggested I poke holes in the bottom of the bucket so they wouldn't drown if it rained. What a smart lady she is!
Okay, now we are all set. Holes in bottom, birds in bucket and Mama gets in bucket also because it is starting to rain. It rained pretty hard and I am praying that they don't drown or fall or anything. Every time I let Iggy out, I checked to see if the bucket was still hanging. It was.
In the morning, everything seemed okay. Mama was still trying to bombard the dog and the birds were both alive and dry. I know, because I checked by taking the bucket dawn and then hanging it back. I kept a wary eye on Mama.
The next night it didn't just rain, it was a downpour with wind, hail and lightning. I was feeling bad for them, even though they were in a tree with branches over them. Kalisha was worried about them. Every time I looked out, the bucket was there. Right before I went to bed, I checked one more time. The bucket was no longer hanging in the tree. It was setting upright on the ground. Just like someone had taken it down and placed it there. But....it was empty. (I took this picture later, when the sun was shining, in case you are wondering)
I felt sick to my stomach, but since Mama had called in the Reserves and there were about 6 robins chattering and diving now, I was fairly certain those babies were out on the ground somewhere. So-o-o, I got my flashlight and Kalisha's bicycle helmet and went searching for them.
Lovely picture, isn't it? Well, what do you want at 11:30 at night? She had never come as close to me as she did to Iggy, but now she was not playing around. She was coming at anyone or anything that moved. I was laughing so hard, I nearly wet my pants. I looked all over and could not find those babies, but it was dark and they aren't actually outlined in fluorescent tape or anything.
As soon as I was about to give up, something came flying past me about 2 feet off the ground and promptly flew right into the side of the garage. Thunk! That accounted for one of them. The other one was soon to follow.
I knew I wasn't going to be able to grab them now that they could semi-fly, (obviously they needed a few more lessons) so I went to bed.
In the morning, all was quiet. I heard their cheeps during the day and Mama was still on guard, but in a different tree. By the next morning, there were no more cheeps and no more protective parents. I believe they learned to fly and they all lived happily ever after.
Several after-thoughts:
1) Robins usually come back to nest in the same spot each spring; should I leave the bucket in the tree? Nah, I think not.
2)That Mama Robin is going to have some story to tell when she gets back to Florida this fall. Not one of her bird friends will believe her.
3) The handle on that bucket did not come off. There was no way it could have blown off the branch it was on AND landed upright on the stone ledge. I believe God, the Protector of all creatures, reached down and very gently put it on the ground so they wouldn't fall when it rained so hard.
Matthew 10:29 Are not 2 sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. NIV
As soon as I was about to give up, something came flying past me about 2 feet off the ground and promptly flew right into the side of the garage. Thunk! That accounted for one of them. The other one was soon to follow.
I knew I wasn't going to be able to grab them now that they could semi-fly, (obviously they needed a few more lessons) so I went to bed.
In the morning, all was quiet. I heard their cheeps during the day and Mama was still on guard, but in a different tree. By the next morning, there were no more cheeps and no more protective parents. I believe they learned to fly and they all lived happily ever after.
Several after-thoughts:
1) Robins usually come back to nest in the same spot each spring; should I leave the bucket in the tree? Nah, I think not.
2)That Mama Robin is going to have some story to tell when she gets back to Florida this fall. Not one of her bird friends will believe her.
3) The handle on that bucket did not come off. There was no way it could have blown off the branch it was on AND landed upright on the stone ledge. I believe God, the Protector of all creatures, reached down and very gently put it on the ground so they wouldn't fall when it rained so hard.
Matthew 10:29 Are not 2 sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. NIV
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