...maybe I'll have two families in my garden.
For the first time last night, I saw both wren parents - not together, but one came out just before the other went in.
Later I knew both were there as I could hear this buzzing and chittering - a cross between a pissed off squirrel and digital interference. It came closer and closer and finally I saw one of the wrens hopping about on the branches of the lilac tree. And then, at last, I thought, 'It's an alarm call!" I stood up and Visiting Cat was in the garden. I went to take her... somewhere. She was not happy and growled and snarled at me, though when I put her down she let me stroke her to apologise for offending her dignity. She was not totally appeased but trotted through the hedge into next door's garden with her tail up and ears a little back to register her discontent. Neither were the wrens appeased. Next door, it appeared, was still too close for comfort. 'There's nothing else I can do!' I thought as the chittering and buzzing continued in stereo. I hope in stereo. I hope she hadn't murdered one of them. Those small birds are seriously loud. And, really, do they think the cat cares about their complaints and avian diatribes? At long last, they settled into silence.
Talking of silence, it's odd, because the parents arrive seemingly without fanfare but the babies start their calls for food before the adults enter the nest. Somehow they know that their home delivery service is imminent.
My cats can hear the babies cheeping when the adults arrive with food and are rather eager to explore. I'm glad they can't go out (unless I leave the door open again...) I have decided to leave a dog bed under the nest when they seem close to fledging, so they don't fall on concrete. Even if it's wet, it's surely better.
I also bought a new feeder and a lot more food. I'm stocked up until mid-autumn at least.
While I sat in the garden today, a young robin drank from the bird bath just a few feet away. S/he looked at me curiously for quite a time and decided I was no threat. Another two, younger, with just the hint of a red breast, were chasing each other around the garden and one nearly flew into my face and had to take swift evasive action. It gave us both a shock.
One of the tiny wrens sat above me on a branch to consider me. I imagine a kind of recognition - the one who watches us fly into our home. Pigeons, I think, can recognise human faces, I mean, recognise different humans. And crows.
I like the birds very much. Last year introduced me to the birds. Thank you, COVID...
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