Come to the edge
June 9, 2008
This little bird is a chick from one of two families of blue tits that have been nesting in holes in the barn wall, he sat on the edge most of yesterday, while the parents worked their socks off feeding him, Tom and I were beginning to wonder if he would get so fat he would be stuck for the duration, in the end he gave it a go and we found him on the grass, or maybe one of the other chicks gave him a push.
Come to the edge.
We might fall.
Come to the edge.
It’s too high!
COME TO THE EDGE!
And they came,
and he pushed,
and they flew. Christopher Logue
Well not quite we found him on the grass, twice, not much bigger than a butter ball, he looked very vulnerable and the cats looked very interested; we poked him back in the hole,(about 7ft off the ground) and left Moss the dog on sentry duty, keeping the cats at bay: there is not much more we can do, nature will have to take it’s course.
The other brood are about 16ft off the ground, so popping them back in the nest wont be so easy.
Awww!! Isn’t there a risk that the mother rejects them once they have a human smell about them? Or is this an urban myth?
he doesnt look happy does he , yes nature will decide for him im sure.perhaps he has indeed been given to many worms.
It was do or die, if we had left him on the grass the cats would have had him
We put a mockingbird chick back in the nest after it had fallen out during high winds. The parents did not reject it, the chick fledged. We, too, were afraid our cats would get it. All’s well that ends well. You did the right thing, had you left it on the ground it would have died, for sure.
What great photos, and what an expression on its little face! I’m glad to hear you managed to tuck it safely back in its little space! You’ve given it another chance at making it. I wonder how it has faired?
Irresistible! I love that bird-expression.
Reminds me of a black and white minstrel with that big wide gape. What a sorry-looking expression! He should be glad there are so many to look after him - mum, dad, you, your family and the dog. Parent bird have a very busy time in early summer. Our daddy-blackbird looks exhausted, even though there are no cats to worry about here. Raising a family is a big achievement for a bird.
Now this was a wonderful post to read on what is a rainy Tuesday morning in northern Michigan. I followed the link and learned that “Come to the Edge” is apparently well known, but it was new to me and I thank you for it. Hope Moss is successful at keeping cats at bay - that little bird is very engaging.
Oh Gerry, not more rain, I suppose you have to fill the lakes with something.
Just fantastic photos again. Thanks for posting.
The sad news that I found a dead chick today, below the nest; was it ‘this one’? I don’t know, nor do I know how many were in the nest or have fledged.
I don’t suppose nature ever intended for all of them to make it.
Awww…well, if it was this one, he had his few minutes of glory by you sharing him with us…and if not, then he’s off somewhere enjoying the spring
Nature is cruel, I’m afraid.