In the spring, the fresh, feel-good spring, we discovered a cardinal was nesting in one of our little side-yard trees. It was so exciting seeing and hearing the pair building and bustling around our front yard. Then the female starting sitting and we knew eggs were there and even checked a couple times when she was off the nest. There were three delicate cream and brown speckled eggs...
A couple days went by and we tried to provide as much peace as a city family with a kindergartener and toddler could. The last time we checked, the cardinal was not on the nest and upon closer viewing, the eggs were also gone. A little sting of sadness - though Graham was sure that the babies had hatched and fledged in about 36 hours since we'd last checked.
A couple weeks ago, we discovered a Robin nesting in a backyard little tree and again we were delighted to share our yard with her. We tried to be as accommodating as possible and quell our excitement for the benefit of the little mama. Graham could even see the mother bird's head and tail feathers sticking out from the branches from his bedroom window!
Sometimes, we'd unintentionally rouse her squawking out of the nest, but she also had eggs - three in the stunning 'Robin's egg blue' hue. Alas, the same results occurred. A little heartbreak again. But my little optimist speculated that they'd hatched and fledged again ( :
What happened? My first thought was bigger more aggressive birds. Secondly, maybe it was our human curious albeit intrusive inquiries.
But this morning, after breakfast, I heard a louder, more raucous squawking. I looked out the back window to see a cat sauntering across our patio. I jabbed at the window and it scrambled around the garage and over the fence. I looked out over the rest of the backyard and comfortably lounging under the weeping mulberry tree was another cat! I grabbed a withering lemon from the fruit bowl with a chill down my arms, took aim and scared that cat out of the yard also.
I hope they don't come back. I've never enjoyed cats too much - they don't seem to enjoy me either. My disenchantment deepened when I first read a sign in the Aviary at the Milwaukee County Zoo about birds versus cats. Cats kill about 500 million birds per year! Recently, there's been disdain about wind turbines killing birds - especially migratory. Wind turbines are estimated to kill 440,000 birds a year. Cats are obviously quite a bit more of a culprit.
I love many a cat-lover. And know that they can be like a family member and trusty friend but hopefully those outside-cat-owners will learn the statistics and keep them inside to help save millions of songbirds.
A love of birds was passed to me from both of my parents (thank you!) and maybe because my baby sister's name was Robin. They're just so beautiful, peaceful and free...Peace to you this day and see you soon. xoxo.
A chance to use some pictures of birds taken over the years! My Mom monitors a blue bird trail every year and we get to accompany her sometimes - so neat. The eagle pictures are from Alaska and the WI/UP border respectively - now they could take a cat easily probably but I would bet not in the 100s of 1000s…
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| Goldfinch on the golden sunflowers in our side-yard |
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| One of the stunning peacocks at the zoo |
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| The glorious flamingos also at the zoo |
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| Geese and their goslings on Lake MI at Schlitz Audubon |
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| Puffins in Alaska |
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| Bald eagle in Alaska - Jason said they were super plentiful there |
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| An immature bald eagle above a mature on Lac Vieux Desert near the UP (takes 5 years, I believe to get a 'bald') |
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| Wild turkey at Schlitz Audubon |
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| Nanny and Graham checking a bluebird box on the trail |
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| Estelle and I checking and counting eggs for the record book |
