“Shhhhh . . . ladies, be quiet!”
We are walking through the forest on a well-marked path, and a small fluttering of wings has captured my attention. The girls tiptoe to my side to see what I see. I carefully point, “There, right there in the branches, do you see her?”
“Oooooh . . . she’s tiny!”
“What is she holding in her mouth?”
I whisper in response, “She’s got some fluff of some sort. She must be building a nest somewhere in these woods.”
The tiny round bird flits from branch to branch, but instead of flying away, she comes closer to us.
And closer.
Really weird. She keeps an eye on us. She is wary.
But she keeps approaching.
She is still holding the fluff in her beak, and I see that she is trying to get to a larger collection of fluff that is strangely suspended in the branch right before us.
“She must want to get more fluff to line her nest.”
Except I realize as I stare that it makes no sense for a ball of fluff to be caught in this smallish pine tree.
It’s her nest.
A nest of exquisite downy construction, just started and still transparent and gauzy.
Once I realize I am looking at a nest, it is very apparent. It is secured to two branches and hangs, a deep curved shape. It is beautiful and delicate.
The bird flits about for a moment and then descends into the nest. We can see her within the nest, the spider-web construction affording her little concealment. She pokes the fluff into place with a quick darting movement, and then retreats to a higher branch to stare at us. Just for a moment, and she flits about some more and then swoops away.
We stand and stare at her nest for a minute. If we wanted to touch it, we could.
I sigh, “This little bird chose a really bad spot for her nest.”
Maj and Kallan both look at me sadly.
Sigh.
“There’s nothing we can do, ladies. Anyway, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe once she finishes it, the nest will be more invisible. I’m sure she knows what she’s doing. Mommy birds know to choose a place that will keep their babies safe.”
Maj is matter of fact and slightly judgmental, “That’s pretty much the only job a Mom-bird has . . . make a nest, lay eggs, have baby birds, and kept them safe. She’s not a good Mom-bird if she messed up the first step.” Maj runs ahead on the path to catch up with her Daddy, who is admiring the river’s undulating muddy surface.
Kallan hangs back with worried eyes, stares at the nest for a minute. She takes my hand, “But what if she messed up the place for her nest and then her babies aren’t safe?”
Ack.
I swing Kallan’s hand and turn with her to walk away from the nest, “Nature is nature, babe. Nothing we can do. Maybe that Mom-bird saw how close we came to her nest, and right this minute she is thinking about starting over somewhere else.”
Kallan releases my hand and dances happily ahead, “Yes! I bet that’s exactly what will happen! So we did a good thing by pointing that out to her!”
She runs to catch up with Maj and Mark, who are now exploring a silty pool of water in the tall grass.
I glance back one more time, Maj’s words echoing in my head.
She’s not a good Mom-bird if she messed up the first step.
Sigh.
When we get home, I head to my computer.
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet . . . that part I already know.
I scan the information page to see where they generally build their nests.
Female Kinglets build downy hanging nests that are usually 40 or more feet from the ground.
Uh oh.
Hmmmph.
The tiniest cutest bird ever.
You use some of the best imagery I have had the pleasure of reading. I could see the nest in front of me and feel the air of that walk. How curious life is when you really stop to enjoy.
Hey, Dude?
That is just the loveliest compliment.
That you could see?
That’s awesome.
Happy sigh.
Thanks, you.
Good thing humans are a lot more hardy than birds. We can survive fucked up childhoods and still flourish. Just go take a look in the mirror.
Lindsay -
What a fabulous and awesome truth that is.
Thanks, babe.
You have a lovely knack of relating things back to real life. So true, and so beautifully written.
Oh, and I definitely thought you took that picture-until I read the tags =)
Chloe -
Yeah, I never have a camera with me in the moment like that.
And if I did?
My photo would not look like this.
Not even.
It is sometimes very hard to watch nature make mistakes. First attempt? Or some other mis-communication.
Or maybe practice.
Lotsa momma birds mess up the first step… Luckily there are lots of chances to catch themselves and correct their mistakes, most of the time.
Lindsay -
I so hope this silly mom gets another chance to get it right.
I so hope she does.
Lovely. She must be a first time mom. It’s often that first time moms choose the wrong homes for their babies.
So I’ve heard.
Amy -
Sigh. Poor babies of the first-time mom.
Hmmph.
Beautiful, and much more uplifting than my bird story today, which is that I went to the basement and found many, many tiny feathers and no corpse of some poor little birdie that my Fierce Cat ambushed and brought in as a present for me (gosh, I’m flattered, but you shouldn’t have. You really shouldn’t have). Guess I’ll find it when it rots. Meanwhile, we’re all rooting 4 the Kinglet & her babes. Will protective coloration save the day?
David -
I sure hope she has some camouflaging plans.
Really good plans.
Her nest is hard to miss.
Stupid cats.
The cat is stepson’s: moved 2 Left Coast & left her with us. I keep hoping interacting with her (she also ruins the screens on porch) is some sort of karmic test, which I hopefully am passing. I used to write a column on incredible factoids about birds, and my parents traveled worldwide to add to their “lifelists” of the little things. Why me?
You were perhaps quite badly behaved in a previous life?
Please call off the private detective who’s been analyzing the bird droppings around my house. I’ll confess about my bad karma.
No lie, I’m actually making birdhouses this afternoon as penance. Get the little ones off the ground (although not 40′ high, thank you).
Yes, that would be quite a climb.
Those ARE bird droppings, though . . . right?
Right?
Many years ago a friend’s parents had a holiday home. One time we went there for a weekend. No one had been there for quite some time. When we looked in the garage we saw an enormous pile of twigs and straw etc. Directly above was a partial nest. The bird had decided to build the nest in a space above the garage door, from the outside. Unfortunately did not realise that the majority of the nest building materials were falling through to the other side. I felt so sad thinking about the poor bird getting closer and closer to laying the eggs and frantically trying to build a nest in time that just never would seem to get any bigger.
Nature is rarely kind. Sigh.
Ben -
We have a large awning in our back yard that operates mechanically. Push a button and it extends out and away from the house and covers a small back patio area. Last summer, a small wren made a nest in the workings of the awning. Made the nest, laid her eggs, hatched her babies, and taught them all to fly.
We spent almost two months yelling at everyone not to push the awning button, because the birds would be killed.
Watching for her return this year, so I can work the awning to discourage her as she is trying to build her nest.
Snort!
I would like to be able to have shade!
Silly bird.
love that story….and love what lindsay said in her comment, that humans are much more durable than birds…..even if the first step (or 10) are done wrong, we will still persevere and flourish!
i hope you go back there, and see if she finished her nest and if there are eggs. get us an update in a few weeks, ya know? ;) (but seriously, plan on getting us an update! lol!)
Sarah -
I am scared to go back and look for her.
Really.
She made my stomach hurt.
Sigh.
i will hope for the best for the little birdie!!
ps – the blog – it’s super fast!! me likey!
Too early to celebrate, as the lovely speed is not reliable yet.
I may bonk Mark over the head.
Bonk, bonk, bonk.
Ahem.
It sounds clichéd, but maybe this little bird will learn from that mistake? I hope so.
What lovely images you evoked.
One of the great things – for me – about moving to another country is getting acquainted with the different wildlife. I love the new birds I am seeing here. Google images + Wikipedia have become very good friends with me! I will keep an eye out for your ruby-crowned kinglet.
Madeleine -
They are speedy darty tiny birds. You are more likely to see the males, as they have a gorgeous small flame atop their heads. Hold on . . . let me link a photo of a male. So fucking cute.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4118880730_6c290919ed.jpg
So fucking cute.
So very fucking cute indeed.
Thank you.
Yay!
You came back to see.
You’re welcome.
and yet it’s always amazing to me how much creatures, us included, survive.
lovely post, m’dear. just lovely.
Thanks, you.
Thanks very much.
You know the Mama bird was staring at you and the girls and thinking, “What the fuck? I royally fucked this one up. I have to start all over– AGAIN! Shit.”
Yesterday? Being outside with Kaylee as she was riding her bike a crow landed on a branch of a tree in our yard. I look up and it has something white in its mouth.
My reaction?
“Oh my goodness! Does that crow have a sandwich in its mouth?”
Kaylee giggles and looks. “Yes! I think it is!”
I step a little closer so I can get a better look.
Upon closer inspection?
It was not a sandwich or even bread. It was some type of cotton stuffing. Like the stuffing out of a stuffed animal.
The crow sat there and fluffed its stuffing and stared at us.
Finally I looked at it and went “Ca-caw! Ca-caw! Ca-caw!”.
It flew away.
Apparently I told it to Fuck off in crow.
Snort!
Stasha -
It’s nest-building time in the Pacific Northwest! Was it as lovely a day up where you live? Gorgeous here. Just gorgeous.
And who knew you were a bird-whisperer?
Ca-caw! Ca-caw!
Giggle.
Also?
I so hope that Mom-bird headed off to start over somewhere else.
Fingers crossed.
Yesterday was absolutely beautiful! Sunny and warmish.
Today? Has been chilly. And cloudy. And it might even rain, again.
Hopefully she did start over. I don’t think I would be able to go back and find out though.
Also? I have a story about a hummingbird that stalked me last year at our favorite hiking spot. Almost scarred me for life. Heh.
Stasha -
I know! I want to go back and check on her, but if she is still there, she will just make me worry even more.
And I want to read this traumatizing hummingbird story!
Yay!
I’m a bit rusty on my crow, but I believe a more accurate translation would be “Don’t forget to get the strawberry jam at the market on your way home.”
Which is probably why it flew off straight away as it had forgotten.
Ben, you always make me laugh. Always.
I used to dreams of beds in trees. Safely adhered to branches.
I am just thinking of that, talking of fragile nests in unsafe places.
And now I don’t like where my brain is going.
A left turn…just like that.
*sigh*
I need a better GPS.
Yes, those left turns are tricky.
They so are.
Everyone is right, the detail in which you write about,amazing! I saw the nest, I was there in the woods w/ you and your girls….and when you went ahead, I stayed behind to try to move the nest.
Poor bird, I hope they are okay.
Jennifer -
Awww . . . thank you!
I so wanted to move that nest. No way to do it without ruining it, but I wanted to help. Sometimes, there is no way to help.
Mom-birds have to learn for themselves.
Sigh.
I’m a new reader and instant fan. You’re an excellent writer, Kris. Pretty-all-amazing. Have you published anything?
Reading this one reminds me of how I felt when my husband used to drink. I felt like a mommy who worked really hard to make a good home but made a bad choice. Uh-oh, tearing up. Nature blessed me though, my husband’s recovered and my baby is a very nice young man!
Thank you, new reader!
I am published every day here on Pretty All True.
Still working on the courage to try elsewhere.
Ahem.
As for the rest of your comment?
Yes . . . the bird was more than a bird to me as well.
Sigh.
Much love to you.
Thank you.
So long, so long, so strong. It’s been so long since I cried. Thank you Kris!
Sigh.
I am pleased to have touched you and I am sad as well.
I am so happy you are in a good place now.
So happy.