Fragrant Cheerfulness

Every year for the past 24 years, I have received an Easter basket filled with goodies. Since I am finally graduating, moving in with my husband, and all that good stuff, Mom decided it was time for me to be a grown-up. This year I got a big girl Easter treat.

I must say, I like this much, much better!!

Pretty lilies- my favorite. Even better... Mom made this bouquet!

Mom made this cross out of a palm frond. I'm supposed to press it and keep it forever. How cool!

I was trimming the ends yesterday and refilling the water when I saw this. The leaf/petal is doing something pretty funky!

Beautiful, huh?

If I had it my way, I'd have a fresh bouquet every week. Some people believe that flowers are a waste of money, but I adore them! I would much rather receive flowers than get chocolate covered strawberries... or a pedicure... or anything else along those lines. To each her own, but this is my thing!

So, good tradition, Mom! You can keep this one up ; )

More Eggs!

I have neglected to post about my other nest... you know the one on the porch. Well, I thought that the birds had abandoned this nest. That is, until I saw a robin fly out of it just now. So, I did some investigating.

I am excited to say that they are proud parents as well!

Although Eugene and Ellie Mae are MUCH more fun to watch, I think these eggs are absolutely beautiful. Who needs Easter eggs when I have the prettiest natural ones right outside my door? Literally.

Sadly, the love story for these birds is not quite as romantic as the turtle doves. Let me explain...

"The cup-shaped nest is built by the female, who builds the outer foundation with long coarse grass, twigs, paper and feathers woven together. She lines the inner bowl with mud, smearing it with her breast and later adding fine grass or other soft material to cushion her eggs. The nest is located on the ground or high up in trees, but most commonly 5 to 15 feet above ground in a dense bush, in the crotch of trees, on on window ledges or other human structures. All that is needed for the nest is a firm support and overhead protection from rain. In northern areas, the first brood is generally raised in a coniferous evergreen tree or shrub, and the later one or two broods in a deciduous tree. Usually three to five blue-green eggs are laid and incubated by the female for a period of about 14 days. She continues brooding the chicks while they are very young, then later doing so only during bad weather and at night. The male assists only by collecting material for the nest and sometimes feeding the chicks."

So, these little chicks will have an absentee father except for an occassional meal. That's not very cool. I think he needs to take lessons from Eugene. He is always on patrol and makes sure the area is safe and secure for Ellie Mae and his babies.

So, I guess my female robin will need a name as well, although I am not as attached to her as I am to Eugene and Ellie Mae. Maybe I'll be a bit more on board once there are peeping chicks around. I am sad, though, that she is only brooding 2 eggs instead of the usual 3-5.

Anyway... I guess I missed the day when I put up a sign welcoming all birds, but I'm glad they feel safe enough to hatch their offspring here!

We Have Eggs!

So, after realizing that the loverbirds were here to stay, I did a little research on them. Here is what I found:

Mating Habits:

All doves in general follow similar courtship patterns. The males coo loudly, displaying before the females. At a more advanced stage of courtship the movements seem more like a bowing to the female. These displays sometimes go on for days, followed by nest building.

Nests are placed in shrubs and trees, relatively low. Doves prefer areas with tall hedges and thickets to woodlands. The male chooses the nesting site and gathers twigs, roots and other materials, which are set in place by the female.

These birds are monogamous and tend to mate for life. There are usually two eggs in each clutch, elliptical in shape and white, with a faint bluish tinge. Male and female share incubating duties for about 2 weeks after which the chicks are hatched nearly naked. These birds are altricial. The young can fly when they are three weeks old.

So, basically, these birds are too precious for words. They mate for life. The male chooses the nest. They share nesting duties.

That means, this male bird literally choose the PRETTIEST location for his love to build a nest. He then gathered the materials needed while she set up home. This knowledge made me feel even more guilty that I destroyed their first home. Andrew and I both agree that these doves are the bird version of us. Their "marriage" is too sweet, and I love how diligently this male sought out the most beautiful home for his love.

Today, I noticed that the female was not leaving the nest as much. She was not getting startled by me coming and going. I figured that she probably had laid her eggs. When I got back from Wal-Mart, I tried to not scare her off of her nest, but it was just too much commotion for her. I took this opportunity to see what was going on.

Sure enough, there are now eggs in this nest! True to research, my love birds are the proud parents to two eggs. I hope I get to see the babies before I move. It sounds like I should... they only incubate for two weeks or so. Then it takes another 3 weeks for them to fly. It would be cool if I were here for that as well.

It is funny that I now tiptoe around these birds so I don't disturb them. I felt really bad when I scared her off of the nest. I took that opportunity to water the plant; however, I had to do so quickly because she kept flying by. I might need to invest in protective head gear for that task!

Anyway...

She is now nestled safely back on her nest. I think she looks precious all snuggled in protecting her babies.

She doesn't rest easily though... her little head popped up when she heard the camera click. The daddy was on the ground eating, but he is now in protective mode on the shed roof.

What good parents! If only some human parents would be this mindful and protective of their young...