It's Been a Real Jungle Out There

I posted a while back that the Junco's had built a nest in our wreath again. A few days after my post I saw the nest had been torn apart... and the eggs were gone! I think some animal got to it but I don't know how. The wreath hangs on the side of our house about 5 feet off the ground. I could see Mr. and Mrs. Junco hanging around in our garden but there was no sign of the eggs or baby birds. This is the first time that's happened.

We've lived here for more than 20 years and about 5 years ago I noticed a wild bunny in our yard. Since then they really have multiplied and one has built a nest under an azalea bush in our backyard. Diana was over the other day and noticed Poppy had been awfully quiet for a while. When she went out to the backyard she saw Poppy had found the nest! She had dug into it and there was a tiny baby bunny in the dirt. It didn't make it. 😔 We tried to block the nest but she got into it again and we lost another one. We really barricaded it that time and Poppy hasn't been able to get to it. We were going out a couple days later and I saw a crow on the back fence with something in it's mouth. Noooo! I couldn't believe it! Another one! And when I looked toward the nest... there's mom (or dad) watching it happen. Ugh! Broke my heart! I know this is how nature works but to see it right before your eyes? Yikes.

 

I got to work in the yard a little last week. To be honest I don't particularly enjoy yard work, but I certainly love the results!

Mama Bird

That's what we're calling her. I've learned she is a Junco and the eggs incubation time is about 2 weeks.

Back in April I wrote about a birds nest in the wreath on our front porch. There were 3 eggs when we left on vacation but a few days later Sharaya sent us a picture of an empty nest. We decided something got them because there were no cracked shells or any evidence of baby birds. When we got home, I put on some gloves and cleaned it all up and tossed the nest. Wasn't sure what else to do with it. 

A few weeks ago another nest appeared and this time there are 4 eggs!

I was up until 2:30 this morning, probably because I ate a lot more sugar than I should have throughout the day 😋 but I decided to check on the nest, just to see what exactly happens in a birds nest in the middle of the night.

And there was Mama Bird keeping an eye on her babies.

Every time I leave the house I tell her, "Bye Mama Bird!" and sometimes she stays in the nest and other times she flies out into the yard chirping at me the whole time.

It's been kind of fun to watch. I make sure the bird feeders and baths are full and we're always listening for the sound of little birds chirping! It could be anytime now!