About 3 weeks ago, we had all thought Spring had sprung and warm temps, flower buds, chirping birds were all settling in to stay for awhile. At least we hoped, right?
Last year, as new owners to this home, we were introduced to a little birdy. A killdeer. Not necessarily the cutest bird and they are loud as hell, but so are my children and I still love them. Needless to say, I became quite attached to this little thing who chose my rock garden to lay her eggs. She sat on them day and night and some weeks later, there were 4 little itty bitty chicks ... hopping around my yard. It was wonderful. However, we were glad it was over because although it was cute and fun to watch ... once ... we didn't ever want to do it again.
About a month later, another killdeer took up residence in the same spot. The boys were angry because whenever they went out to play football, this small little thing chirped and chirped and chased them off from being in a 20 foot radius of her eggs. I have to admit, it got a little out of hand, hubby could barely mow without the bird flapping around and coming close to attacking him. We all suffered through it and wa laa ... baby birds ... then they were gone. A sigh of relief and many football games proceeded.
This year, right at the beginning of our warmer weather, I was out admiring my tulips that were beginning to pop up. And I discovered ...
MORE EGGS!
Being the mean person I must be ... I tried to scare her off. Despicable? Yes. I admit it. But I was so not ready to endure the pain that it would be in a few weeks when I want to start planting my garden and this silly bird will refuse to let that happen. So I yelled at her, and stomped at her ... and she played as though she were hurt ... I NEVER TOUCHED HER!
Smart little booger.
Then the snow came ... and the ice. For the last two nights I wondered how she felt having to leave her unborn chicks to seek shelter for herself. The ice was pelting down and the wind was so gusty that my children asked more than once if we were having a hurricane. Yeah, that's a whole other post. There is no way she would survive, let alone her eggs, she'd have to give in and abandon them. My heart actually hurt as I wondered about her.
Today ... there she sat.
She endured the entire storm. The wind, the ice, the snow, the cold, to protect her babies. She probably never gave it a second thought. There was no choice to leave. That would be unthinkable.
I should have never doubted her. The same would have been done by me ... or you! For that is what a mother's love is all about, right?
I suppose she can stay for awhile.
But she better not give me any grief when I am trying to plant my garden. And I mean it, dammit!
