The Little Bird's Nest - New Life

Late Spring: Early November 2009
It's been a few days since I last checked on the little nest. So this morning, I took a peek into the little orange tree, expecting to see the two little turquoise eggs still untouched, resting at the bottom of the nest....and there! Placing a very cautious eye on me and keeping absolutely stone-still, was a little brown bird sitting in the nest! Slowly, I felt a surge of happiness wash over my initial surprise...she's back! She did not abandon her eggs! She's back!! I was so excited that I ran into the house to inform Frank of the good news, ranting at a lightning speed of 299 792 458 m/s, and flailing my arms around wildly. Then I grabbed my handy little Canon Ixus, and rushed out to the little nest to grab a shot of her. The camera startled her, and with a flap of her wings, she was off again! Oh no! I have scared her off! Thank goodness, she came back after half an hour, and Frank got this shot of her........still keeping her cautious eye on us! Ok M'dm, we will leave you to roost and be comfortable in your little secret orange garden! :)


And guess what? There are now 4 little turquoise eggs in the little nest!!! I was squealing with joy! 2 more in additions to the previous 2 eggs! Whoopee! This is going to be a busy spring for the parents! Other than the nesting brown bird, I also noticed another smaller brown bird popping in and out of the orange tree, which I assume is the partner. And I could hear them chirping madly at me from the neighbour's apple tree when I was snooping around the orange tree: "Stay away from our home, you with the black metal eye!!" So back off I did, before they come swooping down on my head like magpies! But this little episode certainly made my day! :)
Hm.....I think it's time to buy gold lotto! Hahaha....


Late Spring: Mid November 2009
I took a peep on Monday morning while Mama Bird was away. For a moment I was confused. I counted only 2 turquoise eggs. Where are the rest of the...eggs? Then I noticed the faintest movement at the bottom of the nest....., the gentle rise and fall of the ribs on 2 tiny pinkish bodies.....and realised the eggs have hatched! They don't look like the cute, fluffy little birdies from memory. Bald, pink and wrinkled, they looked frail, almost....old. Haha....but when they started trembling, struggling to "sit up", they looked so fragile, my heart just went out to them. Aw.....i tried to take a picture but Mama Bird was getting increasingly annoyed with me, flew straight into her nest and sat right down....ok, ok, I shall take my leave Mdm! As expected, the other 2 eggs did not hatch, probably not fertilised at all. Felt a bit sorry, but then, this is nature, surivival of the fittest.
I only managed to get this shot on Tuesday morning after making sure Mama was not around. They looked more active today, and have little scraggly feathers sticking out here and there, quite comical actually! Haha....and while I was trying to focus with the weird-eyed monster, both parents came back (Yup! Even Papa Bird rushed back!!) terrified of the intruder! And the little one just stretched up, oblivious to all the commotions going on, it's little beak wide open, crying: "Feed me Mama!"
This made my day again! :)



And here's Tommy Lee, the odd-eye white cat! Top alleyway scavenger in Yarraville, and terror of roof-tops! I can hear him most mornings scampering across our roof, trying to spring out at those plump pigeons! You leave the little nest alone now odd-eyed Tom, or I will come sweeping after you with my trusty broom!