Spring Cleaning

I heard the faint song of the chickadee. It was the female bird looking very pregnant ready to give birth. She was calling for her mate and he eventually came. Being a male, he took his time in responding to her call.

They are back to nest.

He came to check the house. He turned his tail this way, that way, poked his head inside the hole, tapped the wood, turned some more, moved on top of the house, moved down again on the perch.  He was taking forever checking out the house and then he flew away. The female bird was left behind.

Now what! Where on earth did he go? Is he abandoning his future family? What a philandering bird, I thought.

She looked confused. I think I was more confused than the bird and wondered how come he did not go inside the house?  She looked so sad. Not her, it’s me that was sad because she flew away as well.

I went out to check the bird house. The old nest was still in there and I don’t see anything nor do I hear anything  unusual inside.

Maybe there’s something else other than the old nest. Maybe they don’t like a dirty house. Too man maybe going in my mind and it was actually a simple forgetfulness of doing spring cleaning.

So I cleaned up the house and found out a queen bee inside with a lone slave. Can’t let the queen bee procreate and produce a million minions living in my balcony. Therefore, I let her go and she flew away as fast as she could.

The birds did not return.  I will just have to wait for next spring and hopefully remember to do spring cleaning.

“Letting go isn’t the end of the world; it’s the beginning of a new life.” ~Unknown

Empty Nest

If you built it, they will come.  And they did. 

I built a sanctuary for birds, two birdhouses. Eventually, they did come. 

Finches were the first family that came to nest. I watched the Finches built their nest in the bigger birdhouse and saw the young ones took their first flight.  That was such a delight to see.  Then they returned and nested again. A total of eight birds came to life and it was thrilling to be a part of it. 

The following year, the chickadees discovered the blue house.  A new generation were born in this house. 

Last year the bees took over. I have no heart to shoo them away.  They needed a place to stay and besides they can pollinate the flowers.  They were mason bees. 

The chickadees came back to nest but it was too late because the bees are not moving out any sooner.  Needless to say, I was “bird less” for a year. 

This year, I waited for the bees to come back.  They were no show.  So I decided to clean the nest. 

Much to my surprise, I heard the sound chickadee-dee-dee; the best known sound that gives the bird its name.  

Between Me, Maurice and Lucy, we imprisoned ourselves inside my sanctuary. The balcony is off limits. 

Feeding time

The feeding process is in full gear for at least three weeks. From sunrise to sunset the parents are in and out of the birdhouse to feed their offspring.  I can only imagine that there are at least four tiny birds inside the birdhouse. 

I have already seen some of the heads poked out from the hole and the parents are now feeding them from the hole and no longer going inside the house.  It must be a fairly cramp lifestyle inside when the offspring have grown their feathers and big feet. 

Mom and Pop Chickadee

By this time, the parents are starting to look haggard.  All they do is feed the bird.  Such love and drive to provide food for their young is amazing.  And I thought, how much we could learn from them.

Last night, I noticed both parents were perched on the bamboo line and were sounding off a different call.  I am unsure what it means but I have the feeling that they are calling their offspring out. 

Lucy and Maurice watching the parents

Even Maurice and Lucy were looking at them, intently in a calm manner.  The cats were listening to the chattering of the birds.  I wonder if animals understand each other.

 I focused all my attention to the Chickadees since the departure of Nymeria.

 Today I came home, all is quiet.  Not a single chirp. 

I went outside and called the birds.  Chickadee-dee-dee.  Nothing. 

It’s so strange to hear no chirping sound and the ruckus of the young ones when it’s feeding time.

 What is stranger, Maurice and Lucy did not even come out to the balcony with me.  They must have known the birdhouse is now empty. 

A feeling of emptiness came over me.  An empty nest syndrome.

Related articles

• Finding Hope in an Empty Nest (thedivinenatureproject.com)
• Everyone Loves A Chickadee (sharonrwagner.blogspot.com)
• Au Revoir Mon Amie, Mon Amour