Saturday, July 02, 2011

the natural world

For two days now, I've been living a backyard drama. Home from visiting babies and hanging in the yard when a cat streaks by with a BABY ROBIN in her mouth. I chase her while another cat gets into the act. We're scrabbling under the bushes while the mother bird does the anxious chirp from the fence. I manage to get the baby away from the cat(s) where they have gone to hide in the cellar. Sheesh. The baby is stunned and looks dead but I can feel her heart beating away. I pat her fuzzy head. She begins to perk up and pretty soon is looking ok. I scout the yard for a high place to put her so the effing cats can't reach. I choose a fork in the apple tree where she sits for a bit. Then she tries to fly and lands on the ground where the big cat pounces AGAIN. So off we go. I chase. I grab his tail and retrieve the baby who does the 'I'm really dead this time' routine. Again, she comes to so I walk across the street to my neighbors and ask if they have a bird cage where I can put Lucille safe from effing cats. They don't but Pete remembers that there's one in my garage so he gets it down and in she goes.

In vain, I look for a safe place. By now the crows have arrived too. Gawd. Finally, I take the cage to my neighbor's yard on the other side of my fence and put the baby on top of the cage so her mom can get to her. She tries flying and lands on the ground. But no cats this time. Just crows. So I'm yelling and waving my arms like a crazy person and they leave.

Back to my yard and pretty soon momma comes back to the fence with a worm in her mouth! Hooray for motherhood. She chirps away so I escort the effing cats into the house where I feed them and utter curses at them. She flies into the grapes and comes out again worm-less.

Today, again the back yard. Momma arrives and begins her chirping while looking directly at me. Really. So I assess the situation, shoo away the cats, she comes back with another worm and ducks into the grapes again. We're raising Lucille together. It's very tiring. And if I find bits of baby bird in the basement any time soon, there'll be hell to pay.

Gawd.

6 comments:

Ms. Moon said...

It takes a village....
Five babies in five days? My lord! Bless you, darling. Get some rest.

Jaye Ramsey Sutter said...

We had a blue jay baby last year. She was learning to fly. Her parents guarded her and I played escort.

beth coyote said...

Ms Moon-All quiet today, weird...and it's the 4th. I once delivered a baby on the 4th and his parents supplied him with a diaper wrap with fireworks drawings on it and a red/white/blue stars receiving blanket.

JRS-Three days in a row. I see the momma and hear the baby chirping when she show up with a worm. Sometimes the cats don't win!

Marylinn Kelly said...

I like knowing the mother bird recognizes and acknowledges a friend.

beth coyote said...

MK-friend to all, except slugs and raccoons. I am somewhat discerning.

Jaye Ramsey Sutter said...

I have a baby blue jay on the ground right now! I am working to help it and keep the cats away. Three cats we feed who won't let us touch them. My husband is working with me building a nest to put the bird in up in our oak tree.

I am breathless. Loving creatures is terrifying!