(no subject)
LIFTOFF! The Barnes Family is Officially Airborne!
The little 'uns have been growing like weeds, and flexing their wings as if in practice for the big day. And judging by the expression on the face of the chick squished into the far left, that day can't come soon enough.
I was worried that one or all of them might try flying a little too soon and would flitter to the ground, where they'd be fine if it weren't for the damn cats. So I sawed down a small tree that needed to be cleared out of the yard anyway, and propped it up under the nest to act as a safety net -- any chick landing in it would automatically grip his toes and stay safely perched and pretty well hidden from the kitties' view, and Mama Bird would easily find him and continue to feed him.
"PUT THE CAMERA DOWN SLOWLY, OR WE WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE MEASURES."
"TWO WORDS: TIPPI HEDREN."
*ahem* ...Anyway, from the porch and safety-net sapling, it's a clear shot to some large oak trees with lots of branches:
And from there to the swimming pool and a nearby pond for drinks of water and flying insects to catch and munch:
This morning the nest was empty. I quickly searched the ground and the cats' whiskers, and found no mangled bodies or bloody feathers or puked-up beaks, but I still fretted about the chicks' fate. Then I looked up at the electrical power lines...
IT WAS THE CHILDREN! :D
AND THE WIDDER, SWOOPING DOWN TO FEED THEM! :D
HERE SHE COMES AGAIN, OVER THE PASTURE WITH A MOUTHFUL O' BUGS! :D
The chicks spent the day flying back and forth from the nest to all over the yard, following their mom and learning how to hunt for bugs themselves. Tonight they returned to the nest to roost, but before long they'll abandon the nest altogether and find new homes. *sniffle* I'll miss seeing their beady little eyes staring down at me!
I will not miss their latrine.
The little 'uns have been growing like weeds, and flexing their wings as if in practice for the big day. And judging by the expression on the face of the chick squished into the far left, that day can't come soon enough.
I was worried that one or all of them might try flying a little too soon and would flitter to the ground, where they'd be fine if it weren't for the damn cats. So I sawed down a small tree that needed to be cleared out of the yard anyway, and propped it up under the nest to act as a safety net -- any chick landing in it would automatically grip his toes and stay safely perched and pretty well hidden from the kitties' view, and Mama Bird would easily find him and continue to feed him.
"PUT THE CAMERA DOWN SLOWLY, OR WE WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE MEASURES."
"TWO WORDS: TIPPI HEDREN."
*ahem* ...Anyway, from the porch and safety-net sapling, it's a clear shot to some large oak trees with lots of branches:
And from there to the swimming pool and a nearby pond for drinks of water and flying insects to catch and munch:
This morning the nest was empty. I quickly searched the ground and the cats' whiskers, and found no mangled bodies or bloody feathers or puked-up beaks, but I still fretted about the chicks' fate. Then I looked up at the electrical power lines...
IT WAS THE CHILDREN! :D
AND THE WIDDER, SWOOPING DOWN TO FEED THEM! :D
HERE SHE COMES AGAIN, OVER THE PASTURE WITH A MOUTHFUL O' BUGS! :D
The chicks spent the day flying back and forth from the nest to all over the yard, following their mom and learning how to hunt for bugs themselves. Tonight they returned to the nest to roost, but before long they'll abandon the nest altogether and find new homes. *sniffle* I'll miss seeing their beady little eyes staring down at me!
I will not miss their latrine.