Sunday, June 26, 2011

Back yard drama

I have a contract with the universe to care for the birds in my corner of the world.  I live in the end unit of a condo block, and the back yard is surrounded by a fence and a high, thick hedge.  There are also some big dense trees.  In the winter I put out a bird feeder and in the summer a bird bath.  It's  a perfect place for small birds - robins, sparrow, chickadees, finches, nuthatches.  The bigger birds like magpies and crows don't come in much because it's small.  The sparrows build nests under the hedge and the robins in the spruce tree.  There are plenty of fat worms in the garden for food.The pets are all well-fed and belled.
This year, a baby robin fell out of the nest before it was able to fly.  It flopped and hopped in the long grass.  The parents were, we think, trying to build a nest on the ground to protect the little one.  My tabby cat, Holly, walked out on the deck and sat down to survey her kingdom as usual.  The robins began to screech and dive bomb  her.  She crouched down and backed up to the door, wondering, I'm sure, how she lost her position as supreme ruler of the back yard.  We put her inside and the birds calmed down.  But the crows and magpie got word that there was a tender morsel available and they came in, once more causing the parents to go into safety mode.  That little robin went  right after that big crow and chased it away.  I flapped the rug at the rest and they flew off.  Eventually the new nest was ready, predators were averted, and they herded the little one into the bushes to safety.  A few days later the big robins spent lots of time in the birdbath, which is usually what they do once the little ones have found their wings and left the nest.  So I hope they all survived and left to start their own lives.  And Holly can reign supreme over the yard again.
Pen, ink. watercolor pencils in the little sketchbook

7 comments:

Alex said...

Such a lovely drawing =) The birds are so happy looking, well illustrated!

Sandy in Michigan said...

What a beautiful little sketch and story to go with it!

nanke's stuff said...

I love this lovely, happy, drawing and the happy-ending story to go with it! nancy

Mary McAndrew said...

great little story, bird baths are fun to watch who shows up. My robins have had such a hard time this year, I've found two nests (different sets of adults) that got abandoned for whatever reason, with chicks in them, dead! Then this morning found a dead fully grown first year on my deck! Poor things, but they are a determined bunch.

Cathy Holtom said...

A great sketch and story, they are lucky to have you near!

Ann said...

Delightful sketch and story!

kazumiwannabe said...

Go, little robins! Cute story, nice drawing!