This is for the Birds!

This year we have had 3 bird nests that produced 12 baby birds. The nests were on a post just under our patio cover. I have really enjoyed watching these birds work together as a pair to build their new family's nest. The mama bird would sit in the nest to keep her tiny eggs warm, while the daddy would bring her nourishment. Seldom would she leave her new home. These birds are small finches, and not really bothered by our comings and goings, in and around the backyard. After all the eggs hatched, the "music " from the baby birds is so sweet, cute little tweets signaling when mama has returned. Mama, with a beak-full of food, and each of them is vying for the first bite. Daddy also brings food to his babies.

All of the babies are gone from the nests and I am going to go out in a few minutes and remove the very dirty leftovers( poopie nest).

Now as for the other birds that "landed" in our yard, they are not so nice to us. I do love to listen to mockingbirds singing, music coming in from my bedroom window at night. I try to figure out a pattern in their music, and that puts me right to sleep. However, we did not have any Mockingbird nests in our yard this year, some babies did wandered in and decided to call our place home, until their wings were strong enough to carry them away. They are different from the Finches in that they, the baby mockingbirds, make this obnoxious squawk to let Mama know where they are so they can be fed. In the past we have had Mockingbird nests in our yard and let me tell you, I HATE IT! The parents also work together as a team. They are very territorial and if you get anywhere near their young'uns they swoop and dive bomb you trying to keep you away. Years ago I had to rely on my umbrella, just to take out the trash! Seriously, swooping makes all the hair on my body stand on end! So, getting back to this week, and the baby intruders birds. I wanted to get a picture of two of them that had taken up residence on my ice cream set in the backyard. Every time I went outside, just the warning noises from Mama and Daddy set my hair on edge. So, being the resourceful person that I am, I used the nearest shelter I could find.
I'm not sure, but I think someone captured another type of fowl in our yard. Could that be a chicken I see?