By KAREN MADORIN
After three years at this house, we’ve put in gardens and flower beds as well as bird baths to encourage local creatures to share our digs. This summer we’ve had a host of birds nest in our trees where we can watch them parent the next generation.
In addition to filling feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, milo, and corn, our gardens attract various insects. We’ve enjoyed watching the kingbirds swarm about the sunflowers and corn, snagging one tasty bug after another to carry back to a nest full of open beaks. We also have a farm field behind us, and as the sun rises in the east dozens of king birds from the area dash about barely avoiding in-air wrecks as they snag a slow flyer. As in past years, orioles join the other birds, zipping so fast through our vegetable jungle that it looks like ribbons of orange flapping amongst the greenery.
Enough weeks have passed that their babies fledged recently. So far, I’ve found two on the ground that bravely launched themselves from respective nests. They ejected on opposite sides of the yard, so two sets of parents perch overhead warning intruders to leave their offspring alone. While none attacked me the way they do the young squirrel that stops daily for a meal and a drink, they gave me what for when I snapped their offsprings’ photos.
The fledgling in the north yard hadn’t developed flight feathers when he ejected into the wider world. I found him sitting still as could be under our tiny lilac bush, knowing instinctively to remain perfectly still to deter hungry cats or hawks. I told him to pretend no one saw him as I returned to the house to spy from the dining room window. Despite his flightless state, the little guy could hop. In no time, he’d navigated from beneath that little bush, across several feet of bristly buffalo grass and Bermuda, into our garden—a veritable jungle that would hide him well. Mom stood guard on our clothesline. Every now and then, I’d see her do what all good moms do, deliver a meal to nourish her baby.
A couple days later, I noticed another tiny bird hopping about on the south end of the yard. Once again, it was a just-fledged king bird, but fully feathered. Again, parents hovered overhead, threatening kidnappers with all sorts of bird violence. Alfred Hitchcock would have a hey day with these guys and their threats. Again, I escaped to spy undetected. I did see this little chap finding his own insects on the ground so he didn’t need nearly as much mom intervention as that first fledgling. I also noted this one managed to get airborne a few times, though it never made it far before needing a rest. I’m guessing it currently flits around the yard with all the other king birds, and I don’t recognize it.
I know some folks don’t relish bugs and birds in their yards. I’m good with that. Send them to our house. Watching these little families grow and become independent make working outside a joy.