Leaving the Nest...

So this one is going to be a little disturbing for my more sensitive souls. You can back out now if you want and I'll understand. Go on ahead...I'll wait...

Brent and I were doing some yard work yesterday. He's building a small retaining wall and I was planting some more flower baskets and deadheading my spring bloomers. When I went around to the front of the house I saw something on the side of our big planter. If you are on Bluesky you know that a Momma bird built a nest in there a few weeks ago. RIGHT after I planted flowers around the edges. I found out when I was watering and she flew out of the middle.

Ooh! A nest with four little eggs. How sweet!

So, anyway, as I came around the corner I could see something on the side of the planter. We've had nesting birds before and once the babies are born the parents clean the nest every once in a while so you get poop splatters and piles as they tidy the joint up. I thought that maybe that's what it was. Then I got closer.

One of the babies did not make it. When the Momma tossed it out of the nest it had gotten stuck on some of the nesting material and was just dangling there. I went over and used my flower snippers to clip off the piece holding it there and took it away.

Mom yelling at me, or at the other babies to stay back the whole time. Me yelling back, I KNOW BUT I'M HELPING!

I have no idea what our neighbors think of me, but I bet it's colorful.

I didn't take a picture of the poor little guy because I figured I was the only person I knew that would find the image interesting instead of disturbing. I do wonder what happened to him. I wonder if there are three other chicks in there who are okay or if I'm going to find other surprises.

I didn't think it was a safe place to build a nest. I wasn't sure that the eggs would make it to hatch let alone the babies making it to fledge. We've got raccoons and outdoor cats and coyotes and other birds of prey in the neighborhood. But they didn't ask me so instead I'm going to replant the flowers that will die because I can't really water well and I'm going to cross my fingers that everyone else makes it out okay.

I'm doing that a lot lately.

Crossing my fingers and hoping.

But just know I'll also help you get rid of the body if you need me to.

I'm helpful like that.