The year we moved into our home, I planted a Purple Plum Tree. It doesn't bear fruit but its foilage turns a beautiful deep shade of purple in the summer after a showing of pale pinky purple flowers in the Spring. I keep it pruned because I do not want it to grow too tall. About two weeks ago when I was examining this tree I noticed two things. One thing is not so beautiful and will become quite a problem as the season moves on but I'll save that topic for another day. The second thing was this:
After nearly five years, someone has built a nest in my tree! When I sit on the front porch swing I have a direct view of this nest (and when I look out the living room window) and I was quite interested to see who it belonged to. I watched for days but I couldn't catch its builder. After a week of it growing larger on the sly I finally spotted the little bugger. Or rather, he spotted me. Or she. There's two of them.
Here's one of them. Looks all innocent, huh? I dare you to sit for any length of time on my front porch. He and his partner will dive bomb you. Yes, I said dive bomb. In perfect formation, the first robin will silently wing his way over to the neighbor's porch roof with the second robin only a few feet behind. When you least expect it something will come flying at your head and you will duck and turn your head as something flies back out the other side of the porch. There will be no time to catch your breath because here comes that second robin. If you are quick, you will identify the birds right away but if you aren't (like me) it'll take at least three to four more flying maneuvers before you do.
It's just the robins' polite way of saying 'Stay Back! Nesting in Progress.' They are diligent in their defense and I, for one, have learned my lesson and stay off the front porch. Why? Think about it....what if they start to drop real bombs? No way do I want that on me or my front porch. I will just stay out of their domain as much as I can. Oh! And that includes the front yard and all of the sidewalk too. The robins don't like people, dogs, cats, other birds and squirrels. ALL are invaders.
This poor guy doesn't know what's coming.
