Friends for Breakfast

Although our weather has been overly warm this summer, if one rises early enough in the morning they may experience a brief time of lovely weather.  Before the sun rises high enough to start its hot walk across the sky, and if there is a slight breeze; the early morning can be quite nice. 

I learned this morning though that I am not the only one who also finds this to be a nice time to come out and enjoy the day before it becomes too unbearable.  Winston and I had just stepped off the porch when a movement caught my attention from the corner of my sight.  As I turned towards my little oak at the bottom of the yard, I noticed something jump from its branches.  Now the squirrels enjoy this tree quite a bit as there is a big feeder of sunflower seed that is nestled in the middle of it, hidden from most .  It is a treasure that is only there for those who know it is there.  Yet this did not appear to be a squirrel.  It was much darker in color, almost black.   Also if it was to be a squirrel I had somehow acquired monster squirrels as its size was a bit large.

I continued to watch not yet venturing to close as Winston was with me and the last thing I wanted was for him to catch sight of what I was witnessing and possibly take chase.   Just then a second animal jumped to the ground.  This time I caught a better view and again it was definitely not a squirrel. 

I could not believe that two animals of such size would be sitting up in my little oak and be so hidden from my sight.  They both crouched down at the base of the tree so that I still could not make out their true identity.  I ushered Winston into the house so that I could take a closer look.   As I ventured down a bit closer to the tree, a third animal jumped down from the oak’s branches.  Now a total of three animals hunkered down around the bottom of the small oak hidden only by a few sparse weeds .  Although the plants that surrounded the oak were few I still could not make out their faces.  Then one of them darted from their hiding place toward the woods nearby.  As it ran towards the higher grass and brush it drug behind it  a ringed tail.  Soon after the second followed and then the third.  Three young coons were enjoying an early morning breakfast of sunflower seeds nestled snugly up in the branches of my little oak.  

I still am a bit surprised that three of them could fit themselves up in the small tree.  Yet my little oak has been refuge for many a squirrel and bird.  His branches reach out accepting all who come to visit and sit a spell. I am sure that he would also welcome three coon siblings if they came his way.   I wondered after seeing my new visitors if I should attempt to trap and relocate them to a more fitting location then my back yard.  I have already done so with two others this summer. They had found my suet cakes and seed earlier at a feeding station closer to my house and were making themselves a bit too welcomed. After consuming a gross number of suet cakes and practically demolishing one of my feeders in an attempt to gain entrance, I had no other choice but to find them new homes.   I think as long as these three stay down by the oak  they will be fine.  It was obvious by their size that they were but young ones and the fact that they were three in number made me think they must be siblings who were likely born earlier this spring.  How could I possibly break up siblings. 

  I did spread cracked corn around the oak yesterday for the birds as well as the rabbits that sometime frequent.  A bit silly of me to think that nothing else might come and also partake of it. 

Blessings

Mother Moon

My New Houseguest

About the time we first hear the Robin's ringing welcome to spring

 we may listen for the Bluebird's more gentle greeting.

No bird's song is more associated with the return of Spring

 than the Bluebird's:

 - Frank M. Chapman, Birdlife, 1897

Last week on return from a visit to the moms we pulled into our driveway.  We entered the house and removed Winston from his crate and allowed him to go outdoors and relieve himself as he had spent some time inside.  Since the sun had already gone down the next task at hand was to gather our kitties,  Sweetie and Sunny to let them go into the garage for the evening.

Usually when we have been gone and return in the evening they are more than ready to go in for the night.  Living in the country there are many not so friendly noises and animals to go along with such noises to warrent a quick run to the safety of their evening bunk.  Yet on this night they were not anywhere to be found.  Even after calling, the slight tinkle of their bells could not be heard. 

I went inside to prepare supper, when I heard a strange noise on the front porch. When I opened the door there sat Sweetie.  When I looked further  to see why she was there as opposed to the back porch, I spotted Sunny as well.  This was odd as they do not usually frequent the front porch, especially after dark.  I quickly told Vincent where they were and commenced with dinner.

Finally shortly after, Vincent came in and informed me that the two had cornered a bird underneath the front porch and this was the reason they were relunctant to come when called.  He then said that in order to get them to come he had to get the bird and put it in the trash so they would follow. 

Now many of you know the many exploits I have had with my kitties in regards to their adventure with birds.  Many a time I have saved a little feathered friend only to bury it the next day when it finally passed.  So when Vincent told me of this misfortune I had to ask him what kind of bird they had caught.  He looked at me in a sorrowful manner and I knew that they had caught one of my precious bluebirds that frequent my yard. 

The next morning when I went to let the kitties out and take Winston for his morning duty, I went to the trash can to see the bird.  I had full intentions of preparing a proper buriel for him with the other "misfortunes" Sunny and Sweetie had given me.  To my surprise as I opened the lid I looked for him yet at first glance did not see him.  As I looked further, I spotted him sitting snuggled up at the botton between a couple of small bags of trash.  I carefully took him out and proceeded to examine him for the extent of his injuries.

Now mind you the many times I have "attempted" to save a fine feathered friend I have looked at them and expected them to be ok only to soon after come back to find them gone.  I did not see any visible signs of major distress except that a wing looked to be slightly banged up.  Yet as he jumped from my hands and attempted to fly I could see that it was damaged in a manner that meant if I did not tend him he would surely be breakfast. 

I put him into a bird cage I had purchased last summer to aid in my many attempts of rescue and put him in the silence of the garage while I went in to have my morning coffee.

Needless to say I was surprised when he seemed bright and alert when I later went out in the day to check on him.  I brought him into the house for warmth and also to examine him more closely.  He definately had a bad wing and bled slightly from underneath.  I did not think he would make it through the evening yet once again the next morning I was pleasently surprised when I awakened to his song.

He has been with us now for 4 days.  I researched online to see what I could do to help him out and we bandaged his wing up as best one can for a small bluebird.  He still likes to crawl out of it on occasion yet I bind him up again to keep his wing as immobile as I can.  He has proved to be quite calm and allows me to hold him in my hand without attempting to fly.  He likes to be soft spoken to and a soft stroke on the side of his face seems to make him quite content.  Each evening he nustles his head down and dozes off to sleep and his song fills our house during the daylight hours. 

I am grateful for each day that he remains with us and pray that he makes it to the point where one day soon I can allow him to return to his world.  There is a sweet solace in a birds pressence.  The blue bird in its colorful beauty is a wonderful example of this.  He seems to talk to me with his eyes and even seems to enjoy when I cradle him in the soft piece of red fleece I use as a blanket for him. 

So my absence the last few days have been spent tending to my new friend.  And hopefully in the days to come my time will equally be asked for as he slowly recooperates back to his old self.