April 23, 2004
Song Sparrow Nest
The rains have subsided, the fog is gone and temperatures are on the rise. Therefore, I felt that it would be alright to check on the song sparrow's nest. In the past when I've leaned out over the railing to get a good look, she has flown away, which has given me access to the eggs, but it also gives other creatures access as well. I've seen a pair of Brown-Headed Cowbirds around lately and I'm sure that they are actively looking for nests to lay their eggs in. I certainly do not want to be culpable in such a 'crime', so I have afforded the song sparrow a lot of girth in my movements outdoors. But with the change in the weather, curiousity overcame me. I went out without the camera because I was convinced that she would fly away and that I'd have plenty of time to come back in to get it if there was something worth shooting. However, she did not fly off, even when I extended myself over the railing to get a good look. If you've never been stared at by a bird at close range (about 3 feet in my case), you really should take any opportunity to do it. There is something so unique in the experience that it is a bit beyond words for me right now. Anyway, as the picture shows, a "good look" is still obscured by grass, not to mention the fact of how well she blends into her environment. I tried to capture the look in her eyes, but I'm afraid that its not possible to see them in the picture.
I wonder what her reluctance to fly away means. Is she just simply more accustomed to my intrusions? Or is she sitting on newly hatched little ones? The latter possibility causes in me almost enough temptation to want to go out there and deliberately scare her away. I will not, however. I think that I'll go play tennis instead. I saw a Great Blue Heron last week fly in to the stream that runs near the courts, maybe I'll be lucky again today.
Posted by Elizabeth at April 23, 2004 03:16 PM