no images were found

 

Last summer while I was hatching my idea to create this blog, something else was coming to life literally outside my door: a bird’s nest was building  inside the wreath hanging on the front door.  No one else was more excited about tracking the nest’s progress than I was, with the exception of the mailman who found every excuse to walk up the two steep flights of stairs to personally hand me the mail the entire time the nest was occupied.

I kept a photo and video diary of it thinking perhaps I could blog about the event in real time. Unfortunately the blog took longer to launch and by then my visitors had come and gone.  Some five months later, I’m finally blogging about it. But better late than never as I always say. 

6/30/08  The nest has been slowly building for over 3 weeks now. There are twigs cleverly secured inside the wreath.  It’s expertly constructed with insulation no less–I’ve seen what looks like fuzz from the dryer machine woven  into the twigs. But today two eggs show up inside the nest! I’m excited and terrified at the same time. I’m wondering if I should stop using the front door.

no images were found

7/1/08:  It’s not possible to stop using the front door.  I’ve been peeking inside the nest every day and today the third egg makes its appearance.  I google to see if I can find out what the average number of eggs is inside a nest.

no images were found

no images were found

 

7/3/08:  This makes 4 eggs in 4 days! I don’t see how another egg could comfortably fit inside this nest.

no images were found

no images were found

 

7/9/08:  Almost a week has gone by and it looks like there will only be 4 babies. The nest is getting taller and fuller.

no images were found

no images were found

 

7/15/08: I come home from a trip and see that I’d missed out on some action.  A lot of action in fact–all but one egg have hatched!  Now I’m really nervous. They were safe inside their shells, but now that they are hatched life is more precarious than ever.  There are racoons, coyotes, and all kinds of big birds in these hills. Let’s hope my nest is well hidden enough inside the wreath.

no images were found

 

7/16/08:  The slacker has hatched!  I wonder where the eggshells went.  Does the mommy bird destroy the evidence to hide the location of her babies?  I know I’m not supposed to hover over the nest so I look at them from a distance with binoculars to make sure all four heads are moving. They look like slugs with transparent skin. I can see the veins in their heads. Nature is both fascinating and gross. I don’t really enjoy seeing nature in hi-def after all. I’ll just post a soft focus pic to give them some privacy–I’m sure you wouldn’t want naked baby pictures of yourself all over the Internet either.

no images were found

What the heck, let’s just show the movie, too!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S4UE-cv150

7/19-21/08:  They look a little bit more alive, but there’s still very little movement. Every day I tell myself to expect the worst before I open the door, and then I’m relieved when I see all four still safely snuggling inside the nest.

no images were found

no images were found

no images were found

 

They don’t move so much as they jiggle, like a bowl of bird jello:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka5OLuWve3g

7/23/08: The wings and feathers take shape.  Bird poop and snails also show up on my door.  Ugh. But the birds look more alert. Their eyes are black and sharp.

no images were found

no images were found

 

7/25/08: They are learning to move around because they are now facing in a different direction.

no images were found

no images were found

 

7/26-28/08:  They are developing strong lungs. Every hour or so there would be a chorus of chirping. When I open the door the mother bird darts out of the nest and the babies pipe down. I know I shouldn’t interrupt their feeding routine but I just want a picture with their beaks wide open!

no images were found

no images were found

no images were found

 

Here’s what it sounds like from behind the door:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJLfg7VRZT8

 

I finally get the shot I was waiting for:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UceBPoF_THE

7/29/08:  They are starting to look fully grown to me and I know my days with them are numbered.  I take tons of pictures as if they were the last.  There are lots of small insects on the door now. It’s not pretty.

no images were found

no images were found

no images were found

 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQTUZHWX9U

 

7/30/08:  My heart is in my throat; there are only two birds left in the nest!  Do all parents experience this silent panic attack every time their children walk out the door?

no images were found

 

7/31/08:  I’m lucky to catch this little guy in action. He’s propped himself up against the door and I know it’s just a matter of minutes before he spreads his wings for the first time. What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on that wall to watch him go.

no images were found

 

8/1/08:  And then there was one. I bet this one was the last to hatch! I can’t tell if he’s just a big chicken, a slacker, or maybe the smartest one out of the lot. He looks like he’s enjoying having the entire nest to himself and in no hurry to fly. I check in on my last baby a bunch of times that day and he doesn’t seem to move at all.

no images were found

no images were found

 

8/2/08: Empty nest syndrome hits me like a ton of bricks.  And then there were none. I’m relieved the mess can now be cleaned off my door, but I’m experiencing major separation anxieties. I hear birds chatting up in the large trees over my house and I wonder if my babies are up there enjoying their freedom.  I’d like to preserve the nest because the mother or father bird had taken so much time and care in building it, but it’s full of insects and snails.

no images were found

 

My front door is now clean and there’s no trace of birth or departure left.  I won’t be replacing the wreath with another. I hope the next expectant mother will find another safe haven to lay her eggs.