Sometimes, you know, nature just up and smacks you in the face in a way that is wonderful and educational and enlightening.
Nearly a month ago, a Bananaquit was trying to build a nest above the dual exterior lights outside our house. I personally thought that was an ill-advised spot, since it was facing the predominant wind direction. She would put up a couple of strands of dry foliage, and the wind would take it down. I thought I'd give her a hand, and I put up a loose nylon net in a bush that was just six feet away and around the corner of the house, shielded from the wind, and most of the rain.
Well, she took to it, and started stuffing the net with cotton from a cotton bush, and dry pine needles (yes, we have Norfolk pine here) and within just a few days, the nylon was no longer visible. I also made a feeder and attached it above our seldom-used western door, and filled it with sugar water, just 14" from the nest.
Then the great deluge came, and we watched the bananaquit out our door, and while parts of the nest drooped from the rain, it seemed to be holding its own. Good construction. We had winds that gusted to 40 mph, and ten inches of rain in just two days.
We didn't see her for a couple of days, and wondered if she'd moved on or given up the nest.
And then........... just an hour ago, I saw the changing wind make the bush and the nest tremble, and there they were............ three trubadours, straining their little necks back and forth every time the nest trembled.
We didn't see mama for quite a while, and I wondered if I could feed them if she never showed up. What would she feed them? Bugs? Grubs? Would I have to chew them up first? :D
Thankfully, she just showed up to placate her three chicks. She fed them, stopped off at the feeder for a nosh and then off again.
Now, we're not people to interfere with nature, but at the same time, we feel part of the process, part of the fabric that makes up our nature, and ......... well......... everybody needs a helping hand sometimes.
Because Bananaquits seem to inhabit bushes more than trees and tend to fly low to the ground, they are often prey to cats. So, the lil' buggers get a hand up from us, and hopefully grow to leave the nest and make families of their own, as nature dictates.
Ain't life grand? I don't mind telling you, I'm pretty thankful, and appreciative that I don't have to chew up bugs for the chicks. Bugs without at least a basic basalmic butter sauce would be pretty horrid.
But I'd do it for the chicks.
Maybe.
Bug relaxing after a harrowing weekend in bubble wrap
Bug relaxing in the hammock and birdwatching
beverage number two. g'nite Bug!
You earned it Bug -- soaking inna 103 degree hot tub after a long day of toiling in the bush.
Obug is quite a workhorse, and she eats and drinks so little, we're thinking of seeing if we can get a work permit for her.......
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Oh c'mon crab, you know you'd chew anything for these chicks ;)
Good Karma for yas.
"a wee opera"... lmao
Hugs to our Crab and the Bananaquits. Pretty babies.
:)
Way cool story, crab. Thanks. The nest is elaborate. Beautiful. Hope the babies do well and that you and Bride experience the joy of seeing at least one baby take its first flight.
Now I've got to research bananaquits. No entries for these little avians in my local birding handbook!
Love that shot of "The Troubadours"!
FEED ME!!!! ME FIRST! NO, ME FIRST! MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE......
Good on you two, helping Mama out with her nest. Providing a string bag as a foundation was inspired!
Finn, yep, you're right. dammit. :D I love the way the chicks wobble their little necks back and forth. I want to tell them "chill out.........you'll strain something.."
Lowercal: "Any boundary around what's natural is bound to be arbitrary". Man, I wish I'd have said that!!
OGal, you see what's on the cover of the bird book that Bug is holding, right? Do we believe in coincidence? :D
Foxx, Bug is saving some hammock time for you too ;o)
LMAO Barefoot! "grubs in basalmic butter" "Los Feliz" yummers! Sounds about right -- that's exactly where I'd expect such an eatery to be, unless it was in Berkeley.
From what I've been able to read, the chicks should be ready to leave the next in about 13 days from now. They had better be growin' quickly. At least they have good air-conditioning and shade.
BUG! You're having a great time! Wish you were here! :D Who knew that you'd want to use the big Hard Rock Cafe glass?
Heya Collins. Yep, Mama built this nest well. It's in a croton bush, shielded from the sun, on the predominant lee side of the house, and in the fork of a 1/2" branch about seven feet off the ground. Branch is waaay too spindly for a cat to even get close. If any cats even attempt it, they are going to get the water cannon treatment. It's a fine behavior-modification tool, and works on people too.
Thanks much Calpoppy! Nice to meet you! Love your paintbrush and phlox photos ;o)
'Dig the shades, Bug' !!
I bet she's enjoying a little sun and relaxation. Ogal made her help with the 'spring cleaning'!! Lol
So any problem getting her thru customs???
Oneshot -- nope, Customs was very gracious; no problems whatsoever. I began the conversation with: "If you ever thought I was crazy, what's in this box is not going to change your mind. " ha
Crab, I'm sure she'll help you out! She was a big help to me when she visited us, cooked dinner, made an apple pie for us.... it was great.
LOL.... I was wondering about that.
I remember when I first mailed OB off to FL for the pancake breakfast. When the fellow at the Post Office made a routine query about what I was mailing, and did I want it insured, it made him look up from what he was doing and snap to attention, when I told him, "Nah, there's no need to insure it. It's just a life sized poster board copy of myself." When I told him what was going on and why I was doing it, he got a huge laugh out of it, let me tell ya.
I'm sure OB will be more than glad to help you and Da Bride chop bush, IF you can pry her from that hammock!
Me? I'm tuckered out again. I was outside earlier, repositioning those flagstones. Walking back and forth, trying to make sure that they're suited to a good stride length. No big steps; no little 'uns. I think they're OK. I might fiddle with them a bit more, before I set them in a bit, so we don't trip over them.
Oh, it was pretty obvious that Hubby read the note. I didn't find him out cold in the yard, when I went out for the paper around 5:30 this morning!
Wow, what Bug can do with those arms. She fits in well with you but she fits in well with all her friends. My kitties really miss her. I am just so glad you are giving those legs some color. She will come back to the states looking like an islander.
You three have a wonderful time and I will anxiously await your next episode of fun.
Ooooh, to be on the Brac, bush chopping or not. Anything would be better than here at work!
You'll probably have to pry her arms from the coconut trees when it's time to leave.
:o)
Does Da Bride need some help with the housework?
Bug you are still being treated as a guest. Housework won't start for awhile. Just enjoy your fruity drinks and the hammock. Maybe Crab will show you his famous cave.
and I see Bug has made it to your beautiful part of the world!!!
You have a great day!
do I wish it was 3D Bug down there in that hammock. I am having a hellacious day here in the office.....
I need a fruity drink BAD>
Hope you all have a great weekend!
What're we up to this fine weekend?
Finn, love the photo of you a Lucy!
Oneshot, she gets up before either of us and makes breakfast! WOW! We're not used to having ANY breakfast......... what a treat! This morning it was my favorite -- fried corn meal mush, with butter and syrup and fresh sliced mangoes and tea! I didn't even know we had any tea in the house. You don't suppose.........
Bug, I thought we'd see her in the hammock every day, but nope........ she's just like you -- a real go-getter. Said her left hip was bothering her "a tad" after cutting bush all day today. Offered her an ibuprophen, but she declined.
... and no. Hardly any bubble wrap was unpopped. Dang near got us arrested you know. Customs doesn't like opening packages that pop. Can't blame her though........ she was bored inside there.
Ogal, as you can see by the bush cutting photo, Bug is actually starting to get a little color! Good thing too, because when the three of us were walking on the beach two days ago, I heard a little kid say to their Mom, "look Mama, a ghost!" OBug laughed about it all the way home.
M~E!! woo hoooo! OBug is looking forward to visiting Finn, but seems to fit in here just dandy. She's the only visitor we've every had that the cats warmed up to immediately. They just know. :D
Bug, I do most of the housework. Well......... I do the "gross removal" and m'Bride does the fine tuning. OBug got up on the stepstool, took down all the containers and glasses on top of the cabinets and cleaned them!! That hasn't been done since *gulp* Paloma.
Ogal, funny you say that. We were talking about going to the beach tomorrow, and then checking out the cave in the afternoon. Both of us are taking the day off, as an extention to Constitution Day, which is today and a holiday. Since the sea was too rough to swim today, the three of us elected to work.
Heya Gams! Yep.... happy endings for everybody! :D chicks are about to leave the nest, I think. Mama is drinking the honey-water I left for her, but not feeding it to the chicks.
Bug, wish we could express you a fruity drink, a coconut, two mangoes, a papaya and a conch dinner. That'll fix anything.
Sandi, OBug is dipping in de tub as we speak. Bug's not shy -- as you know -- but somewhat modest. Still, she allowed just one photo of her in de tub.
PeaceRiver -- We're on it! :D
Well..... only saw one of them, but our cat saw it too and I was too busy locking the screen door to get my camera.
What did the 'quit do? It flew low to the ground to my van, back and landed on the screen door!!! Cat about went ballistic -- I thought I'd have a riot on my hands.
Thus, the cat is on house arrest for the day, untill there is no more activity outside the door.
I wonder if I should make a tiny "for rent" sign for the nest?
Bug doesn't look like you had to work too hard. Crab and bride were kind to you and then they let you relax in the hot tub. What an island life. Continue to enjoy. Are you journaling your trip?
It may be more fun taking pictures of the cat going ballistic! Cool stuff, nature is.
And the baby birds have flown. Wow.
Really appreciate your taking time to leave such thoughtful comments in my blog, crab. And, even though you've been in Cayman Brac for a while, today might still hold some meaning, so...
Will keep you posted on my blog :)
Anyway.. hope to see more of you!! have a great week!
Looks like you guys were GREAT hosts!
Wishing you a very happy and weather safe month!
I got a special delivery today!
Looks like you & da bride are visiting me for awhile!!!
We had a great visit Sunday Morning. It is so cool to actually meet people that have been "friends" for so long in person! I have a picture of ya'll enjoying breakfast with us Sunday I will try to post soon.
Missing you lots and lots .. wish I had time to come to WU more often. We need to catch up soon! ((((hugs for you and da bride!)))
Crab and Da Bride are Stateside?!
Planning a road trip to CA in a few weeks... anyone know where the bug is at so I can ask her to come along? I am in Mississippi for a few weeks then gone during the first days of Sept.
Yes, Crab & Bride are visiting... they have been on the go enjoying all the wonderful things mother nature has blessed this area with. Going to have to post photos...I'll get around to it asap!
Man we miss you guys!
You made a fan outta me and hubby... this girl is great :)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
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