AN EVENING MEDITATION

Another week is nearing its end and the sky is darkening with the setting sun lighting some clouds.

The wind has quieted and the wind chimes are still and silent for a change.

A tiny hummingbird stops by for one last drink, only his tail visible from this angle.

Soon the arms of darkness will wrap around the land and all will be quiet.

Except for these two idiots.

Sigh.

Perfection is difficult to attain.

YOU'RE NOT WELCOME!

We had an unwelcome pair of visitors this week.

Now let me be clear. We put out the birdbath and keep it filled with (relatively) fresh water. Every one is welcome to use it.

Even mourning doves. One of those coo-coo-coo birds was spending an inordinate amount of time at it the other day.

And that was fine. I enjoyed watching him even though their incessant call drives me somewhat crazy after awhile.

But it was when he began building a nest in the Redbud tree directly above the bird bath that I had to intervene.

It was fascinating to watch. A female was perched on a branch and the male was going to the ground, picking up small twigs and then building the nest literally around his mate while she sat docilely.

Now she may have been instructing him where to put the twigs and how she wanted them knitted together but it didn't appear like that to me.

When I told SWMBO what was going on she told me to chase them away. We did not, she said, want a couple of monotonous and noisy doves nesting that close to the house and we definitely did not want them perched directly above the bird bath. Fouling the water, shall we say.

So I chased them away and pulled down the beginnings of their nest. After my rude act of unfriendliness, they flew to someone else's tree and peace, of a sorts, was restored to Mr. Catalyst's Neighborhood.

Though I feel a tad guilty.

MOURNING

I'll just bet you've missed the bird pictures, haven't you.  Well here's one of two.



This is a pair of Mourning Doves.  We seem to live in the midst of a covey (?) of them.  They are all over the place.  I sort of like them but then they don't perch right over my bedroom window.  SWMBO says their mournful but monotonous call drives her crazy.

Incidentally, note the spelling.  Some people refer to them as Morning Doves.  Uh-uh.  Not correct.  I don't know why they seem so mournful but I have described them previously as one of the stupidest birds around.  Maybe they know of their reputation and are expressing their unhappiness.  Whatever it is . . here is a video of one "cooing."



Like I said, I kind of like them.  But when you've heard that sad cry perhaps a couple of hundred times, it can get on the nerves.

BIRD BRAINS

The BRD says robins are stupid because you can practically walk up and touch them.  I think they're bold.  And sassy.

Now, mourning doves.  They are dumb.



WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?

"Don't worry . . I've got your back."