Robins in the Honeysuckle

You can always tell when you are getting close to a robin's nest. The mom and dad birds will let you know in a distinctive worried cheep cheep chirp. I have come to identify their worried calls and generally tend to steer clear of the nest. I was recently working around my wisteria arbor though, and wanted to take the opportunity to check on this nest. I knew the robins had built a nest here because I can easily see it from my computer room window, but I was not sure on the status of the eggs or babies. Since the arbor is over 8 feet tall, I had to use a ladder to reach into the nest and came away feeling a bunch of warm bodies. Hmmmm, this bears further investigation.

Ah, there they are! Happily sleeping and looking very content and comfortable. I can't resist seeing the babies up close and personal. Momma bird was never far away and kept a watchful eye on my painting near her babies.

Here is momma bird right under the large branch closest to the camera. She was not dissuaded from her motherly duties by my presence. Once I got off the ladder, she immediately checked on her babies and found they were all well. I am so glad she chose a high location to raiser her young. BJ is a bird dog and hunts them out. Once he finds a nest he destroys it, no questions asked. It is so frustrating for me.

I want to mention the honeysuckle. I do of course have the common Japanese honeysuckle all over the place. While I like it, I don't like its aggressive nature and smother everything in its path attitude. My daughter, Liz, and I attended a Perennial Plant Society (PPS) meeting about four years ago. The PPS had just began giving away door prizes. They were a bit tentative on how to do so. On this particular night the two door prizes went to the oldest and youngest members present. My daughter was the youngest (at 23) that evening. She won this 'Dropmore' honeysuckle and gave it to me. It is finally beginning to grow and while it is an aggressive viner, it is a pretty orange and easily confined to the wisteria arbor. A post will be upcoming on this 'tremendous' arbor.

in the garden....