For the Birds

There has been a flurry of activity on my porch this past week, but there’s really no cause for alarm. The same thing happens this time every year. Just as sure as they fly south each winter, come spring feathered creatures take up temporary residence in my eaves trough.

What certainly must have been an entire extended family had gathered in my front yard, and I thought for sure I’d find that a condominium association had been established in my rain gutter. Imagine my surprise when I hauled out the ladder and discovered tucked away in the deepest corner of the eaves just one intricately woven bundle of twigs … and four blue eggs! This year’s visitors are obviously not mourning doves. Sure enough, by the time I grabbed my camera and returned, a flash of the startled red breast was fleeing from the nest.

It amazes me how hard robins work to make something so symmetrical and beautiful. It typically takes from 2 to 6 days to make a nest, with an average of 180 trips per day to find materials! Males sometimes help gather nesting materials, but the female chooses the site and attends to the building. I guess I should be flattered she picked such a classy neighborhood, huh?

Like most birds, robins only lay one egg per day until the clutch is complete, usually stopping at four. I’m not sure when she started the entire process, but know the incubation period lasts from 12 to 14 days. Once the babies hatch, they’ll hang around for another 9 to 16 days before flying the coop … er, nest.

I wish the nest was more easily accessible so I could monitor the progress of the eggs over the next several weeks. I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ babies … especially the kind with feathers! Yet again, I don’t want to upset the balance of nature and have the nest abandoned because I’ve stuck my nose—or camera—where it really doesn’t belong. That Mama Bird was already squawking up a storm while I precariously perched on the porch bench (in high heels, no less) to snap a quick photo. And admittedly those geeky little hatchlings totally gross me out. I’ll just keep an eye on things through the window from the confines of my living room.

If only Tippi Hedren had been as thoughtful …