Yesterday was overcast and dribbly with rain. I looked out my kitchen window to see a brown baby bunny nibbling on grasses in the back yard.  It was very wary, and would nibble, hop forward, and nibble some more. Then it sat up on its haunches and looked around, its ears twitching like radar, before disappearing in the underbrush.

It and its family have reason to be cautious. This morning two hawks flew over the yard, screeing to each other, looking for a meal, I'm sure. I was sitting in the swing, folding clothes, listening to the hawks and the the wind chimes overhead, and enjoying the climbing red roses in bloom again, when I noticed a little brown bird with twigs in its beak hop up on the carport.

Aha! my wrens have returned again. I started a home for them by putting a dry mophead in a bucket sitting in a chair by the back door. Then I turnrd two old shoes upside down on top of the mop. The tiny bird cocked its head, watching me, but I didn't dare make a move. Satisfied, it flew down into the bucket. Later I checked and they have made a nest down in there with my old shoes as a roof.

They are in a snug place, between the back door, the outside frige, the car and the swing. In this nook I hope they raise more babies so I can call myself a grand-birdy again. One year they settled in a flower pot I had stuffed straw in. The pot was right over a window, so I watched them come and go. One day they started making loud distress sounds. When I went out, a long yellowish snake had its head right at their nest.

I whacked the BeJesus out of that snake with my walking stick. It fell to the ground and hurried off. The birds were spooked, and flew away. I was glad the little ones were able to fly away with the parents. I hope they have some genetic memory of a Goliath who bested a snake in their defense and that's why they come back every year. I like knowing these wild birds choose to share raising their young with me here on my porch, and I feel very protective of them. It's a jungle out there!   Susil

Comments:

comment by troutbend on Apr 30, 2008 9:36 PM ()

Hi Laura; I heard on the radio if spiders have infested a bird
house, the birds stay away.

reply by susil on May 3, 2008 7:58 AM ()

Nature is glorious but sometimes cruel.

comment by panthurdreams on Apr 29, 2008 1:56 PM ()

Hi Hawaii; Tx for stopping by. Arm and hand pain have
limited time spent on computer, hope to catch up with
your blogs soon. Stay well.

reply by susil on May 3, 2008 8:03 AM ()

comment by tealstar on Apr 28, 2008 4:16 PM ()

teal, that is so cool! To have dolphin to watch, plus egrets and
other birds paying visits! I like Ed, because he names his visitors.LOL
But nah, I put the mop head in the bucket
so the birdies would have a warm dry base to build their nest on, and
the the upside down shoes to make them feel secure down there, to
hide under.

reply by susil on Apr 29, 2008 7:37 AM ()

I don't even dare to hang a bird feeder in my yard. It would become a cat feeder.

comment by nittineedles on Apr 28, 2008 1:09 PM ()

Same here too many cats..

reply by elfie33 on Apr 30, 2008 7:30 PM ()

Hi nittin; Fortunately I have no cats to pester the birds, but
there lives are in peril from every other critter out looking
for a snack! Hey, tx for stopping by.

reply by susil on Apr 29, 2008 7:31 AM ()