After dumping that saddest post on you last time, I thought I would share something positive. I think Perry has sent me presents from beyond the rainbow bridge.
Before I leave you with these images of renewal, let me say that I lost my mind and ordered the fanciest cremation package, a cardstock photo of Perry from Shutterfly, and a copy of Curious George Goes to An Ice Cream Shop, the book I used to read Perry every day when he was at the rescue. I’ll clear off a shelf in the kitchen near my computer for these items, including his ashes.
The mamas and babies below remind me of the year that my father and my cat Mac died. My father died on May 14 and Mac on June 28. After my father died, a hummingbird returned to the nest where she had just raised a pair of twins and laid another two eggs. I got to video her teaching one of her chicks to fly. I re-published the lyric essay/flash nonfiction story I wrote about these events on Substack: Leaving, Changing, Returning
And now this year:
First there was the mama quail and her huge covey of chicks. Daddy not available at the time of this video.
Then the gardener showed me the hummingbird mama on her nest right outside our door. See how she’s built it on the underside of a lantern.
hummingbird mama on her nest
Later, the gardener told me where to find the mourning dove (how appropriate) nest on top of a patio speaker. Look closely to see two babies sitting in the nest. Sorry the video keeps moving too far down.
Awww babies! I love babies (especially the animal kind!). We get robin nests sometimes, always someplace inconvenient. There are other nests around but we only see them when the leaves drop in the fall.
Yes! When I lived in Michigan, we had robin nests. And beautiful robin eggs. We have mockingbirds and other birds in the area, but they either build their nests up very high or not around the house like the mourning doves and hummingbirds. They seem to like to build near doorways with people going in and out. Protection from non-human predators?
Nature can be healing. I saw goslings today. I called them toddlers. We have so many birds around, but I seldom see the nests.
Haha, I love toddler animals. And teens, too. I never see mockingbird nests, for instance, although they make them in shrubs and low trees. But it seems to be the nearly domesticated birds like the mourning doves and hummingbirds who build near the doors.
We have so many mourning doves around, but I haven’t seen nests or babies. Also lots of mockingbirds. Of course, I don’t go looking for nests either. Though I’ve seen an eagle’s nest because it’s so big!
That must have been amazing!
Have you seen this? Fledgling Starling in an osprey nest? It’s from the Cornell site
Oh my! That poor little starling, so confused by these big parents! Thanks for sharing, Merril.
You’re welcome, Luanne!
A lovely post, Luanne
Thank you, John! The cycle of life in late spring!
So many baby quail! And that magically suspended hummingbird nest! And mourning doves are always the sweetest. All are lovely gifts, and now you’ve share them with all of us. Thank you.
A big thanks to Perry :)!!!
Love this, Luanne! Nature is magical. 💙
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I agree! Thank you so much for the review, Jennifer!
You are most welcome. You are a very talented writer!
I liked your thoughts in the Substack piece. Very appropriate and also too bad you’re going through some of it again.
I love finding hummingbird nests!
I’m glad the birds were able to bring you a small measure of comfort.