Mama Bird

This blog post was intended to be two posts. I meant to post the first half last night, but Murray and I got home late (9:00) from dinner with friends and I was too tired to post. What a difference a day makes!

Yesterday's Post:
About a month ago I started noticing some accumulation of pine straw, leaves and moss in our kitchen window (the storm was just a little loose). It did not take long to see this debris being brought in by a sweet, hard working Mama Bird. She worked and worked to make that nest perfect. Until about a week ago she started bringing something different into the window, little bugs and worms. Along with that we heard very, very high pitched chirping (squeaking). Mama Bird had 4 little baby birds! It took several days for us to even be able to see the tiny birds and all we could see was the little yellow beaks opening for their food. We went out of town this weekend and when we came back the baby birds were much bigger and much more courageous. They had started peeking out of their nest and looking back at us. As you can imagine the kids have loved every minute of it! They loved watching Mama Bird build her nest and love checking in on the babies all the time! Here are a few pictures of Miller checking on the babies (Sunday).



Look closely at this picture and you will see two baby birds looking right back at you!


Today's Post:
Usually on school days, we get home, I get Ella and Miller out of the car, quietly carry Sara Wells up to her bed, put Miller to bed and then Ella has a little snack or we talk for a little bit and then she has rest time on the couch. Today I was really counting on this schedule working because I was taking dinner to someone and we were having a friend over for dinner. Of course the days that you really count on having "your time" it never works out that way. Ella was very talkative and really wanted to help cook dinner so I gave up on rest time and we started making the bread. As soon as we started making noise around the window, the baby birds started chirp chirp chirping away. I walked over to the refrigerator and evidently the birds came out of their nest. Ella had not seen the birds come out that far, so she wanted and up close view. I put her up on the counter to look at the birds and I noticed they were out much further than they had been before. And then I realized what was going on. Ella and I watched all four baby birds learn how to fly. It was one of the coolest things I have seen!
Baby Bird One getting ready for take off (at this point I did not realize that they were going to fly away)

Baby Bird Two watching Baby Bird One fly away, trying to building up courage

Baby Bird Three slipping through the window

Baby Bird Four (Ella named him Bert) was the last little bird left and he did not catch on quite as quickly. He took about 3 or 4 minutes to muster up the courage leave the nest.

Bert flapping his wings trying to get the hang of it.

Ella always is the encourager! Here she is encouraging Bert that he can do it!

And there he goes!

After they all flew out, Ella and I quickly ran outside to see if we could see them outside. Bert did not make it very far. Here he is right below the window.

Ella trying to teach Bert how to fly. (Look for the tiny gray dot)

Ella and I stayed outside for about 30 minutes watching the baby birds. The entire time Mama Bird flew around in between her babies checking on them. We would randomly see them fly/fall from branches and tumble down the hill as they hopped along. It was definitely an experience I will never forget! Here is a close up of one of the babies.


I feel like a proud Mama Bird, all my babies have left the nest. Our kitchen window is now quiet and none of the babies have come back to visit. Hopefully Bert won't go too far. I like to think he will build his nest in one of our trees or at least come back to say hello one day and sing us a song. I will always have a special place in my heart for Mama Birds now!