This week I witnessed two bird moms working very hard to raise their babies.
The first is a robin who built her nest on the inner frame of my patio umbrella. We had it open at the time, and she must have thought this was a perfect spot to build--a sturdy framework, shade from the sun, and protection from the rain. I have been missing the birds I knew in my Kentucky yard, so I was so happy that she had chosen our yard that I left the nest in place.
That little robin has sat on that nest for almost two weeks now. We have had several days of high winds which rotated the umbrella around and around. She still hung on. Now our days are getting hotter, and I see her standing in the nest with her mouth open to cool off. Her mate doesn't come by to feed her, so she has to fly off a few times each day to hunt. I have kept our bird bath filled with fresh clean water for her. I've learned not to bump my head on the edge of the umbrella when I'm watering my plants. Now I'm a bit worried for her, because it seems her babies should have hatched by now. I hope she isn't sitting on nonviable eggs.
The second bird mom was a dove. Doves like to build their nests on platforms, so they often build under the eaves of houses in my neighborhood. Unfortunately, these ledges aren't as sheltered as the birds might think. They're subject to high winds, which we have been experiencing lately.
I was walking out to my trash bins when I saw a pile of sticks and straw sitting on top of the green waste bin. I thought it was something my husband had cleared up from the yard. But as I looked closer, I saw that under the straw were two dead baby doves. They were almost fully feathered, their mouths open as if waiting for something to eat. I looked up above me, and I saw a mother dove looking down at me. She was just quietly sitting there, unable to leave her babies. I thought how hard she must have worked to get them to this stage, just days from being able to fly. The wind must have blown the nest down from my neighbor's eaves. How awful to build a nest, lay eggs, care for the eggs and then care for the babies--and then lose them. It broke my heart!
I ordered a dove box from a maker on Etsy. It has a roof and a platform for building a nest. In addition, it has a little guard rail to keep the nest safely in place. I know just where to hang it. I hope her next brood is able to make it to full maturity.
