July 10, 2008

And then there was one

On my front porch I have a tall cabinet that I use for a mini garden "shed." It used to be a friend's kitchen pantry, but when they got new cabinets, it was destined for the dump. Being the chronic recycler that I am, I saved it and a few other pieces of the cabinetry. Some got turned into hallways tables, others to cold frames/plant stands, and still others to an island in my kitchen. The tall cabinet however, just fit to one side of my front door on our little porch, and I quickly filled its shelves with garden tools, rolls of twine, little jars of seeds I have collected, plant stakes, as well as various and sundry other garden paraphernalia. My list is not the end of its utility, because some local robins have decided that its top is also an ideal spot to raise a family.

Sadly, though, the family has dwindled over the last couple of weeks. What started as a clutch of three bright blue eggs dropped to two. One morning I walked out to eggshells and partially formed birdie bits all over the porch. I did not hear a ruckus so I don't know if a thief in the night made a failed getaway with a tasty prize or whether mama bird decided something was wrong with the egg and gave it the old heave ho. A couple of days later, the two eggs hatched (and I have no idea what happened to the shells because they are not in the nest and nowhere to be seen on the porch or its environs). They were fuzzy lumps, still too small to peep in protest of empty bellies, but they were both breathing and looking about the same size. Last night I noticed that now when I rustle around on the porch or go into the cabinet for my trowel that there is noise coming from above. But this morning when I peeked in on the - I assumed - two little ones, there was only one baby. And contrary to yesterday, it wasn't peeping or sticking up its gaping maw. I have looked around and can't find either a baby or a body on the ground or porch. There are some other things up top of the cabinet (old pots and what not) but I can't see the baby up there on quick inspection and don't want to mess around too much and upset the parents.

I hope that the remaining nestling makes it, but am not encouraged by his relative quiescence. Last year's cardinal nest turned out one success and two casualties, so I am hoping that the robins can do the same.

Posted by binky at July 10, 2008 11:16 AM | TrackBack | Posted to Gardening


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