69. Chick Number 1

When Greedy first flopped out of the nest, he immediately flew 20 metres out of the garage. Directly into daylight over our driveway, he seemed shocked, simultaneously running out of steam and having a crisis of confidence. 

68. Wagtails in the Wilderness

I’d been walking near the house, but needed to go further away. Three weeks of staying home meant I had a bit of cabin fever.

67. Happy Easter Chicks

In a house on a hill on a farm, there’s a garage. In that garage, there’s a nest in a toolbox.

66. The Love Birds

Birds flock to my parents’ home in Newcastle. 

65. Nest in a Toolbox: Part 2

In my previous post, I said we were in for hard times, for sorrow and sad times. This week I lost my mother, the dearest woman in the world to me.

64. Nest in a Toolbox

“Life is always a rich and steady time while you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch.” Charlotte’s Web E.B White

This is not a steady time but one of rapid and radical change. 

Even so, I can’t wait for hatch-day.  

It won’t be long, nearly time now.

63. Seagulls on the Shore

Heading home to the farm again, I start crying in the car. Eyes too clouded to drive, I pull over at a boat landing on Lake Macquarie. 

62. In a Hurry Honeys

Coming back from a weekend walk, two White-plumed Honeyeaters flew past my ear. Both came close enough for me to hear the wind beneath their wings. In a manic rush to mate and nest, they collide with things like windows and me.

61. Rainbows in the Rain

Swarms of bees, wasps, hornets and ants surrounded the house last month. Looking to move their hives or nests closer to water, they sent me gaga. 

60. Perfect Preening

We had a new India Blue Peacock. Mr Popples liked hiding in the back garden; but popped his blue head up every once in a while to surprise me. In the garage he blocked me from driving to work. Demanding food for rite of passage, he became the gatekeeper. The bird was out of favour. Then I saw him preening. 

59. Saving Baby in the Sink

Mum always says I should start the new year like I mean to continue. The 1^st of January 2020 I saved a bird. Not just any bird, but a fledgling of the Pizza-oven bucket-bird I love. If I continue saving birds for 1% of the next 9 years and 364 days, I’ll be happy.

58. The Bird Who Saved Christmas

I usually love Christmas. This year there’s been a smoke cloud over the season to be jolly. Bushfires on or near our farm meant I didn’t look forward to the day; no cooking or decorating either. Instead, I worried and made myself miserable. The Christmas spirit never hit.