An Update

Update on Mama Bird:

I've watched her build a brand new nest in the rolled up shade, since a cactus wren pulled the old one out. She's been sitting in there for a couple of weeks. She is a very devoted House Finch. Even during the winter, she slept in there.
It's a bit hard to see her in this picture, but I didn't want to get too close and make her nervous.


Yesterday evening as we were sitting outside, we saw both Mom & Pop land on the shade, and this teeny little head bobbing back and forth while being fed. This will be a hub of activity from here on out through the summer. I think last year she had three batches of babies in there.


And here begins my anxiety. I feel responsible for them, checking on them, worrying about them. I hear it's good luck to have them nest around your house though. :)


This lovely apartment has not been occupied as yet this year.

We've had many babies born in here in years past. I'm not completely sure what the story is this year. Except...

I remember last year, the baby ended up on the patio, healthy, chirping under the potting bench. He spent the night under there with his parents feeding him through the slats on the bottom. The next morning I noticed the baby huddled up against the house, obviously sickly. Who knows what found him under the wood. Could have been anything around here. I sadly watched as mom & dad tried to get the baby to eat, putting their beak into the baby's. He just couldn't. Later that day it was obvious that he was gone. So sad.

I send them so many good wishes, and effort from afar! But sometimes it just doesn't result in that baby growing up. After that I noticed that mom was gone and dad sat on the branch of that house for the rest of the summer, calling her. She never came back. I swear it broke my heart.

This year, I think it is the same male that guards the house, waiting. No new nest. No female checking it out. But he's still on the house everyday.