If you know me well, you know I love animals. Even as a child, I rescued and cared for injured ones. Now living in the forest I am seeing lots of things. But nothing so exciting as having those four baby birds newly hatched on the porch. It is clear a predator has been visiting my porch both during the day and during night. I hope it is not the groundhog for its days are numbered. Yes, I get the food chain and all, but geeze, these little ones didn't have a chance. Why did the Mama birth so low to the ground? What is wrong with a tree?
I found a dead bird in part of the nest on the porch floor when I got home a little while ago. There was another one six inches or so away from it. It was barely moving and I put it back into the nest. There is another dead bird in that nest. I suspect the missing fourth one was eaten.
Mama bird just returned to what is left of her family. Before her return, I removed the nesting materials and buried one baby bird near my dogs ashes in the woods. Upon laying the bird to rest, I gasped uncontrollably. Here I was again burying another beloved animal. This is not getting easier.
Nature takes its course. I just wish it wouldn't do the deed three feet from my front door. It has been three weeks since I could use the porch and that was just fine. I expected the birds to depart sometime next week - fourteen days after hatching which seems to be when they fledge. Or longer if they needed more time.
It is somber on the mountain today. Clouds have covered a once blue sky. Thunder rolls in setting off my National Service Radio. It has been a hard day, a hard few days if truth be told. Somehow we muster the courage to move on. The trick is no attachments. I know the theory.
No application here. Not today.
In loving memory ~
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