A Single Mom

So far, it's been a funny old year. A serious and stubborn pandemic. Outrageous political figures and a severe drought with prolonged hot weather in my area. 

Rain has fallen in patches around mine but it seems there is a large and invisible umbrella over my land. On the up side, I have not had to mow my lawn for ages and for once, garden weeds have the disadvantage!

I've been preoccupied with concern for my cute little single mom neighbour. If you know me at all, you're likely thinking, "The neighbour is a bird, isn't she!?" You'd be right!

Towards the end of June or the first of July, something had taken the eggs from a pair of Eastern Bluebirds. Instead of fleeing the area, the couple decided to re-nest in a box that stands only a few yards from the failed one. Within a week, the female built a nest and laid another clutch of eggs. But I didn't see the male come to deliver food items to her as she brooded. Then it twigged -- He is gone!

Was he hit by a car? Taken by a hawk? Killed while defending the nest? Or did he just go out to buy a pack of cigarettes and kept on going? I'll never know.

Still, the female bluebird sticks with her plan and carries on. Her nearby thrush cousins, the robins, help drive off nest raiding red squirrels and sound the alarm for other approaching dangers. So she does have a bit of security from them. I happened to look out the window one day to see a curious Downy Woodpecker peer into her nest box. She had to fly out and shew it away herself. That and delivering food to her while she incubated would have been the male's job.

In the first week of his disappearance, it was sad to see her fly up to a hydro wire and scan in all directions looking for him. Gradually, she quit looking and just got on with her job. She brooded her clutch until they hatched and now (if she's lucky) will spend more than two weeks bringing her nestlings food. The task would have been halved had her helpmate not disappeared.

I'm not going to sneak a peak into the box just to admire and count her babies. With all of her concerns, she certainly does not need to worry about a nosy human. I can only wish her the best and cheer her on from my kitchen window.

This female Eastern Bluebird is attempting to raise a family on her own.

Before leaving the box, she checks to make sure the coast is clear.

Her very busy parenting duties have loosened a tail feather.

Removing a fecal sack tells me that her eggs have hatched.

These bunnies have nipped every bud from my cornflower plants. (sigh)

Nothing cheers up a kitchen table like a freshly cut bouquet.

Try, try again!

Last week I noticed a pair of Eastern Bluebirds claiming a different nesting box in my garden. So I thought, "Why are the resident bluebirds not complaining? Are these the same pair that were nesting in a nearby box?" When I looked in their first site, I discovered that something had taken all of their eggs.

They are now gamely having another go at raising a brood in a box close to the predated one. The female quickly filled their new house with nesting material and has now produced her first egg there. I have to admire their determination and hope it will be second time (or perhaps even third time) lucky for them. To help thwart nest raiders, the North American Bluebird Society recommends mounting nesting boxes on zinc-plated electrical conduit pipe. Then, greasing the pole with a non-drying automotive grease or carnuba wax. Also, the boxes shouldn't be within jumpable distance from trees. Next year, I'll have the upgrades in place!

Sadly, something has taken all the eggs from her previous nest box.

Moving on, she tries her luck with a box more in the open.

Cat roomy, Ellie Mae, is in day three of a 'lock down'. It's got nothing to do with COVID-19 and everything to do with the young barn swallows who are starting to fledge from their mud nest in our garage. The first day of her imprisonment, Ellie thought that perhaps I couldn't hear her meows so she raised the volume and number of demands to be let outside. A noisy house, I can tell you! The second day, she relaxed more and this morning only gave a token request and soon gave up. In a few days when the young birds have safely flown away, she'll be allowed to resume her outdoor adventures. We all have to make adjustments to our lives at one time or another -- even pampered cats.

The sixth Barn Swallow baby is out of sight in the back row.

Perched on a deck stool, this youngster was the first to leave the nest.

Staring at the door knob and meowing no longer summons the door lady.

Ellie Mae knows there is a young barn swallow on the deck's foot stool.

A Gray Catbird youngster awaits food deliveries from the rim of my old bird bath.

Bunnies, bunnies! Everywhere are bunnies! They do love their dandelion leaves.

Despite our prolonged drought, wildflowers reliably continue to bloom.