It’s been a busy time for myself and the birds around here. There are a number of nesting families very close by and I am watching their progress from my desk.
There’s a nest of Blue Tits just above the window, a pair of Great Tits under the granite bird bath, and a number of Blackbirds living in the willows. Out of the corner of my eye I catch them swooping back and forth; without really studying them, I know everything about their movements.
One flight path takes the Blackbirds perilously close to the window pane as they angle in to round the corner of the house. Sadly a Hen Blackbird went head first into the window this morning and landed in the gravel below.
When I placed her little warm body on the paper, her wounds were obvious and there was a tiny droplet of blood coming from her spectacular beak. I studied her in detail, her feathers, structure and colour. The hens are brown, and are the most beautiful mother shaped birds.
These are the facts; we are born, we live and then sooner or later, one day, we meet our end. I’m watching the other Blackbirds now to identify her mate. One sat for ages just above the spot, singing in the rain and grooming ferociously. I’m not sure if they grieve? I’m not sure about anything much when it comes to these mysteries…..
How sad – isn't life sometimes hard for those who die and those who only witness as well as for the mates and children left alone. When we lived in France our house had a recently built extension with patio doors when we moved in and the number of birds that were stunned or died was awful. Do they like badgers have their own flight paths/routes and no matter what they keep using those ways even if there is something in the way I wonder. Tragic.
I think the surrounding landscape is reflected in the glass and sometimes the birds feel they can fly through. My worst experience was the death of a young hen pheasant which was a sizeable meal. After just 24 hours she had been demolished by the other wildlife…..nature is so raw at times isn't it?
It's not good that the bird died but it is good that you have thus had an opportunity to get to know one close up. I was fascinated when I came across a dead Canada Goose a couple of years ago and was able to examine its feathers and beak. http://looseandleafy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/of-course-geese-have-teeth.html
Lucy, thank you and I loved the Canada Goose what a wonderful creature! Close ups are enticing and I have to admit this was a wonderful scientific moment…..
Oh…so sad…I know how you feel…my home in Arizona has large windows that reflect the landscape and we have the same issue…
Thanks Robin, We probably shouldn't even be here! But if we were not here so many of them would lack cover and protection as the fields are stripped bare of trees and undergrowth. x
This happened a few weeks ago here to, the blackbird was dad, so sad……but that's life. It's fun with all these nests around us in the garden. One of the father blackbirds has discovered the dog bowl in the kitchen. He comes up to the porch and enters through the door into the kitchen stealing Snarf's food for his children. This morning he brought his offspring with him on the porch, three fat little blackbirds. It's such fun to watch them.
Janneke that sounds amazing. Here they are very shy, but I love the idea of them stealing from a dog's bowl…..genius!
What a sweet bird. I don't think we have that sort of bird around here. Lots of Ravens but no small blackbirds like this one.
A bird's life is so tenuous, yet they travel amazing distances and survive fierce storms for all their delicacy.
Thank you my dear! I have become quite involved with a few of them alright. The swallows have now arrived too. As you say they are amazing, coming all the way from Africa to Ireland……just imagine? I can't…..
You did her proud, you paid attention.
That's such a memorable way to look at it…..thank you …..
I'm not sure either! This happened to a robin last summer not long after my love died… I took the warm soft body of the poor little thing and placed it somewhere deep for nature to take its course as I had done a few weeks before for my love… Not understanding the mystery is sometimes very brutal and painful… I am still trying to embrace it all.
Lovely Post.
Thank you. I was touched by your story. I have often found that birds in particular are very comforting creatures to be around. But the mystery still confounds me every time…..
Sweet and delicate little bird. Your images are filled with tenderness and compassion.
Elsa, who always follow your posts (she's very touched by the beauty here), wants to comment too. She asked me to tell you that she's very sad for the blackbird mother and her family.
Amelie, I'm thrilled that Elsa wanted to comment and that she reads the blog. Yes it is very sad. It's one of the great mysteries that each of our species preys on the other too. Within days the Blackbird had become a meal for a family of Gulls. Now I am keeping watch over the other nests and hoping for a better outcome. Tell Elsa that the Swans have had 4 baby cygnets and I hope to get close enough to photograph them soon. x
blackbird singing in the dead of night.. No song or flight for this dear bird but we are all paying attention – how amazing that a little creature can command our attention and distract us from our busy daily flight paths. Thank you for stopping me in my tracks as always. Cx
My family think I am odd because I would have done exactly as you did and photographed the bird in death, but how else can we honour what is there and what there is. Your images are a beautiful homage to a connection made.
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It is sad when birds die…we have had a couple of close calls with window strikes mostly from males fighting and not realizing how close they are to the house. She is a beautiful bird and your pictures are stunning in her tribute.
Very tender but sad photos. Makes me think of a time I tried to rescue a bird when I was a little girl, but it was too late.