a few weeks ago i found an empty bird's nest in one of the espaliered apple trees in the orchard garden. i checked it now and then to see if it was active. soon eggs started accumulating in it---blue-green with dark speckles. when i would check, the nest was always empty, apart from the eggs, so i wasn't sure who they belonged too. then one day i saw a scrub jay in the nest. mama bird had laid her clutch and had settled in to incubate.
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| there ended up being a total of 4 eggs |
a few days ago i was in the garden when mama bird left the nest very briefly and i snuck a quick picture.
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| baby scrubs---3 of the 4 eggs incubated successfully |
i had a very visceral reaction when i saw them. at first i felt something like disgust and thought they were kind of ugly but then realized it is just that they are so vulnerable, so horribly helpless, it's painful to look at them.
the nest is at the edge of the orchard garden near the northeast corner, an area that doesn't need much attending this time of year, so they won't be disturbed too much by my coming and going in the garden and i make sure that zane and benji don't get too close.
may mama and babies be safe and well and thrive.
