We constantly see birds flying, darting around in bushes, chirping, singing, and........this time of year, nesting. A giant hawk nest sways in the tall butternut hickory trees towering above the creek below the house. This year there have been several birds hiding their nests in plain sight. At least the birds think they’re hidden. They are really out in plain right next to the house.
A robin nested in a siberian pea shrub tree just 5 feet from our screened in porch. Mom perched diligently on the eggs. As they hatched, the young grew from tiny wisps with outsized beaks until their chunky wide-eyed forms filled the nest - as in the photo. We watched as mom constantly foraged for goodies and returned to regurgitate into the gaping young mouths. Suddenly, in one afternoon, the entire nest was evacuated. I inspected the nest. It was wonderfully made. The most talented engineer or artisan could not have fashioned a more perfect structure.
Another robin nested in an evergreen next to our driveway and just a couple of feet above the shady spot where one of our old English sheepdogs flops when the weather is warm. It was constantly flying in and our as we passed by or walked the dogs.
Now we have a bird nesting in the open on the upper end of the downspout from the roof. I have yet to identify this bird (photo below)– there are two of them, actually, mom and dad presumably. When we are in the area, the birds swoop out onto other tree branches, darting from tree to tree, back to a hummingbird feeder and then to the nest. They act like they are either showing off their graceful moves or reminding us that they are there – and we shouldn’t be. Soon they’ll hatch, move on, and join the chorus of life in the tree canopy above Bittersweet Woods.
Life is all around us – woods or not. Are you paying attention?
