It's for the Birds!

There's a life lesson somewhere in this post..... I'm trying to find it. You might think I'm majorly into birdwatching but that's not really the case.

So, at the Haven, we have two covered decks off the back of the house. In the springtime, it's pretty common for birds to pick out a place in the rafters as a likely nesting spot. Usually we get robins. This year, we had a pair of mourning doves: Momma Dove was pretty calm, and would stay right there, even as we walked around underneath her. Unfortunately for Mr. & Mrs. Dove, the big windstorm that wiped out the batting cage also took out their happy home.

And it actually happened a second time, too. To Mother Nature's credit, however, Mr. & Mrs. Dove are not talented nest-builders. They used mostly sticks and stiff material, and not very much of it. The second nest attempt didn't get very far before the wind took it out as well. We think they're nesting elsewhere in the shrubbery now, since we still hear them a lot. They're like the artistic or brainy people that have no clue about how to wire an outlet or change the oil in their car.

Well, apparently the Haven must have had a aviary "FOR RENT" sign up, and we also got robin tenants -- on the other deck. They picked a most inconvenient location -- the sprinkler control box. Todd removed two nest attempts there.

Undeterred, they started in the rafters. Todd removed another nest attempt there. He can be just as determined as the birds are. Mr. and Mrs. Robin are apparently most desperate for a home, though. Perhaps, as Jodi suggested on the Springs' Surprises post, Mrs. Robin simply could not wait any longer!! I know some preggo ladies who would totally identify with that, and would like to get on with things right now as well!!

This next photo shows how much the robins accomplished in ONLY a 24-hour period. Seriously. They continued after this for another 8 hours or so:

The downside for the human Haven residents, is this is located right over our stairs and furthermore, over the barbeques, and the Robins are MOST untidy tenants. Can you see all the crap that fell down, just in the construction process?

I never would have noticed this at all, if I hadn't be working on the computer during construction, and it was all happening right outside my window. What struck me as really funny, was how Mr. & Mrs. Dove were hanging around for the construction demonstration! Were they trying to get tips? Is this the avian version of HGTV?

They didn't seem to bother or hinder Mr. & Mrs. Robin at all -- they just hung around!

The Robins, who obviously subscribe to the Speedy Construction methods, didn't bring just one straw at a time, they brought whole mouthfuls. We recognized snow-in-summer foliage (light green in the photo) and walnut tree blossoms (the black stuff) amongst it all. On one trip, Mr./Mrs Robin could barely attain enough lift to bring the material, and flopped over backwards in midair in the process:

And all the while, Mrs. Dove is hanging out for the show:

Then, the doves would get really close for a GOOD VIEW:

Here's a rather fluffy-looking Robin, with a big old gob of building supplies:

Placing it on the nest......
And here come the Joneses, I mean the Doves....... checking it all out! Isn't it just like those nosy neighbors to hang around and watch while you're working on a home improvement project!! This is NOT their nest!!

Later, I stopped back by, and, wondering if Mrs. Robin was really all that desperate, I got the best shot I could manage.... checking for eggs. Mr. & Mrs. Robin were very skittish, and if they saw any movement in the window or near the doorway, they would fly away. Most of my photos came with the zoom lens, through the open door, and I was standing at least 6 feet inside the door. Any closer, and the Robins would be GONE.

Nope, no eggs. But, I have to admit, when the Master of the Haven returned home last night, he accidently on purpose removed the hard-won nest again. Whatever happened to birds nesting in trees and bushes??? What happened to "In the Leafy Treetops, the Birds sing Good Morning"?

(Not completely crushed in their efforts, the Robins are actually considering rebuilding on the same spot. However, the rigorous construction schedule is NOT there! Perhaps they're a little daunted now by all their hard work going to waste.)

It reminds me of those people who build a dream getaway home on the beach, then cry because their home got washed away in a hurricane -- you know, the home on a flood plain that they couldn't get hurricane insurance for -- weeping and wailing because they lost everything, and then decide to rebuild again on that same property, because they like the view so well. DUMB!!!

Maybe today's rain is casting a shadow on things, since we have almost no progress. Or maybe the Robins are simply putting their heads under their wings and have given up.