| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| texdane |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 05:19:59 AM
This morning, DD went to the veggie garden to pick some snow peas. She came back screaming for me to help. Went outside to find Mama Bluebird dead on the ground and her beautiful eggs smashed on the patio. Made my stomach turn. This is the birdhouse I blogged about in March and last week, how happy we were to have bluebirds in it. We watched Mama and Papa all Spring build that nest, and Mama sat on its perch every morning singing. I am really upset over this. I know it is nature and wildlife, been around the food chain my whole life, but DD and I are quite upset by this. We were going to put in a hen house soon, and DH now thinks maybe I shouldn't. He's afraid I'll get too attached.
This morning I smell skunk. My dad thinks it was a coon. I thought maybe a screech owl. What do y'all think? I don't think a skunk could get up there, but maybe a coon. Anyway, I'm bummed. Okay, even shed some tears. DD wants me to bury Mama bird in the yard with her eggs. Am I being silly?
Also woke up to deer eating my hostas. Forgot to spray the stinky stuff after the rain. Not a good morning.
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
| 19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| texdane |
Posted - Jun 27 2012 : 3:46:59 PM
I am happy to report that a new "mama" moved in the house. So nice it is not empty anymore. It's a little house wren and she cleaned up the old stuff and made a new nest. She sings so pretty! In addition, we had baby birds in the other house. Most exciting, is our little nest in our front bushes. There were three robin's eggs. Now there are babies that hatched today! Mama Robin has been busy covering her babies, and feeding them. They are so cute and featherless. You have to believe in miracles when you see a mama bird take care of babies and make such a perfect little nest. Also, every morning, we see a mama deer and her little spotted fawn on the front hill. She seems comfy on the hill, and that seems to be their spot to nurse! So sweet!
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
| texdane |
Posted - Jun 06 2012 : 3:49:09 PM
Thanks for all your support. :)
Just went to my daughter's garden club at school and was told a neighbor had a similar incident but it was sparrows who killed all of her bluebirds.
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
| rough start farmgirl |
Posted - Jun 06 2012 : 03:38:27 AM
I think it was perfect what you did for Mama Bird. Hope you have a new song bird in your yard soon.
Marianne |
| Madelena |
Posted - Jun 06 2012 : 03:13:28 AM
Oh Nicole.. I think we all feel the same way. I am the person you would want around in a emergency: logical, emotions on hold, action oriented. Not much bothers me. But, here I am sitting reading these posts with tears running down my face, picturing all the lovely animals that everyone talked about.
God shares his animal children with us and I am grateful. I thank God almost every day for the family pets He has shared with me through my lifetime. I still mourn my kitten that died 8 years ago. (My husband mourns all his dogs and kats from forever. ) And I could picture Audreys cattle trailer going down the road and imagine their innocent brown eyes looking out at the farmlands for their final trip from home. (crying again).
God is Gracious. He share so much with us. I am grateful He shared His bluebird family with you, even it is was for a short time. We love all of Creation. Farm girls do.. Prayers. |
| crittergranny |
Posted - Jun 06 2012 : 01:06:09 AM
I'm glad you are going ahead with the chickens. Death is a bummer but it is part of the experience and if you gave up you would be denying some cute little chicks a home with you. We just have to press on in love and you win some you lose some. What a fun little bird to have around for a while. You have a lot of love to offer Gods creatures.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 10:01:49 PM
Aw... I feel so bad, Nicole! I don't think you're being silly! That's a very sad thing! You loved having the bluebird family there - they brought you such joy! Of course it's going to hurt! I'm so sorry this has happened. Makes me cry, too! Big hugs to you and your DD, my dear sister! - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| Joey |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 9:35:03 PM
Oh Nicole, I just read this post and my heart is breaking for you all. I am SO sorry about your bird and eggs. I know how special they were for you and your daughter. I'm so glad you buried them and made the headstone. I know you were in tears..I was in tears just reading it. This is nature at its worst. Big hugs to you all. Joey
Well behaved women rarely make history. |
| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 4:53:33 PM
I would would have been hard pressed to see thru my tears doing what you did, and all creatures should be buried with as much dignity as any human...I just buried 4 little pups who died at the hands of humans, and bawled like a baby at the idea of such cruelty...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
| prariehawk |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 4:22:59 PM
I'm so sorry about mama bird and her eggs. If it was a raccoon, you can try putting the birdhouse on a tall round post, and before you sink the pole in the ground, put a PVC pipe that fits over the post around the part that will be out of the ground. Nothing will be able to climb up it--not coons, not snakes, not cats--cause the PVC is too slick. I have a bluebird nestbox (alas, there are no bluebirds in my neighborhood) and I put it on a post like that and nothing has ever been able to climb up it. It's heartbreaking when you try to give little birds a home and some predator destroys them. (((Hugs)))
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
| acairnsmom |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 2:37:33 PM
No, you have every right to feel upset. A bluebird is a gift to us from God and to find your "house" bluebird dead and her family killed warrants tears from us. These are living, breathing, beautiful creatures. I cry when I see a deer who has been hit by a car, I cry when a bird or a rodent runs into my car while I'm driving and I kill it. I cry when I see the cattle haulers on their way to the slaughter house, (I say a little prayer for them truth be told). I cried once when the nest some doves had built blew out of the tree, my heart broke for their family which would not be that year. There's nothing at all wrong with you other than a caring nature. Never lose it!
Audrey
http://prairiecairncottage.blogspot.com/
.jpg) Good boy Hobbs! I love and miss you. |
| laurentany |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 2:09:25 PM
Just saw this post Nicole, and I do not think you or DD are being silly at all. Nature can be the most beautiful thing in the world, but sometimes seeing the whole chain of events in nature is not so pretty.
I am glad that you gave mama bird and her eggs a proper burial. I am sorry that you had to go through this, as I know how special that bird house and the bluebird and her eggs were to you.
Now that you know that it was a racoon you have to be sure that when you build your henhouse, it is secure. Last spring we added 4 baby chicks to our henhouse. My husband built me a whole new pen etc for them so there would be even more room from the hens we already had. Unfortunately, our dog busted through the "door" and "played" with the chirping hens, and killed them all. She then proceeded to sit there and wonder why they werent playing anymore. There was no blood involved- she simply picked them up and shook them around, and obviously their necks snapped. It was pure instinct on her part, yet pure heartbreak for us. Needless to say, that very day my husband secured the door, adding slats so that nothing could get through the door ever again. It was a tough lesson to learn. My DD and DS cried all night.
I hope that your daughter is okay, and that you still venture into the henhouse idea. It will surely be very rewarding for you all!
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| texdane |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 1:44:59 PM
Oh and Marybeth, How awful about the baby deer. That must have been terrible to witness.
Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
| texdane |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 1:39:38 PM
Thanks everyone! DD and I buried Mama Bird with her eggs under the big Maple tree she liked to sit in. DD cried, and even wanted us to put a "headstone" so we wrote on a rock in permanent marker "Mama Bird and her eggs, She died bravely trying to defend her babies". We really miss Mama bird singing and flying to and fro. Determined it was racoon. Thank y'all for thinking I wasn't being silly. @Marly: How sad to find those turtles! Thanks for understanding. And I'm still gonna get my chickens...
Hugs!
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
| delicia |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 08:34:19 AM
It is wonderful that you are the kind of person that is upset by seeing this kind of thing. You care deeply for life and I think that you are one of God's special people. What would a world without people who care be like? Keep caring and loving. I think there are many of us who would have acted the same way. I say YAY for you. That Mama bird and her babies were happy for the time that you cared for them. |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 07:56:04 AM
Nicole, I know how you must be feeling. About a month ago, I found a huge turtle that had been run over right at the end of our driveway, but on the street. The turtles eggs were all over. And- three was another big turtle that wouldn't leave her side. It was so heart breaking to see that. Like you, I buried the dead turtle with her eggs. Hugs to you.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| paradiseplantation |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 06:49:13 AM
No it is not silly to be upset. What that says about you is that you are a very compassionate person. It's been eight years since we've been on this farm and I still tear up when one of my hens die, and it bothers my heart to find some of my beautiful bluebirds, purple martins and other feathered friends lying in the pasture after having been killed by a ------ (cat, coyote, hawk, dog, you fill in the blanks). I'd let dd bury the mama and her eggs. And I would encourage you to get your chickens. Trust me. Your heart will be broken, but there is so much joy at the same time, it is well worth having them!
from the hearts of paradise...
1Thess. 4:11
http://thefarmwife.com
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| Sue Feely |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 06:24:18 AM
Ah Nicole, I would be so upset too, I am quite sure you are not at all alone! |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 06:05:23 AM
No not silly at all. I would feel the same way. It would be a sad world if we didn't care about the life around us.
Nancy Jo
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
| Okie Farm Girl |
Posted - Jun 05 2012 : 05:49:15 AM
Nicole, you are not being silly at all. I'm right there with you. Day before yesterday, our neighbors' dogs discovered a baby deer in the pasture next to ours and though my dear hubby and another neighbor tried to beat them off with a shovel, the dogs killed it. It sounded like a small child crying out and I just sobbed. Still makes me cry to think about it. If I'd had a rifle, I would have killed those dogs, I was so mad. When neighbors are so thoughtless with their animals, it is really maddening. So, so sorry about your birds. Yes, nature is tough, but you have every right to be terribly sad.
Mary Beth
www.OklahomaPastryCloth.com
www.Oklahomapastrycloth.com/blog
The Sovereign Lord is my strength - Habakkuk 3:19 |
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