New Houseguest

You know how when you are taking down your Christmas decorations there is always that one thing that doesn't make it in the attic? Well, ours this year is the wreath. Since it was forgotten, I had just planned on changing the bow to make it more seasonally appropriate (which I still plan to do).

Several weeks ago we noticed bird chirping that sounded like it was just at our front door. I thought some birds had found a way into the attic and were making a nest in there. We would notice when we went out the front door that there would be two finches sitting in the tree out front. Have you figured out where I'm going with this yet?

Then twigs started to appear in the top of the wreath. Then a perfect nest. By this point every time we opened the front door a bird would fly out to the tree in the yard.




Then Sunday night as Jason was heading out for his run he opened the front door, and Momma Bird flew in the house instead of out to her perch on the tree. We check the nest, and sure enough three perfect eggs.




After about 20 minutes of hilarity we were able to scoop her into a bowl and get her back to her nest. We were afraid that we might have stressed her out to much and she would abandon the nest, but she did not.

We listen to her song all day long and carefully open the door, making sure to give her time to fly to her tree. Now that the eggs are there, she watches us very carefully the whole time. When the eggs hatch, I suppose we will have to use the garage door as the front door. :)

The way I figure it, this is a pretty smart Momma Bird. The place she chose to build her nest is protected from the wind, rain, predators and so forth. The only thing she has to deal with is those pesky humans swinging the door open a few times a day.

Here are couple videos of the event. Professional bird handlers, we are not. The second one is worth it, just to hear the two of us talking to the bird, like crazy people.