Dear Reader,
Two ways to win this week, guess the type of baby birds and/or email me a bird story. There are drawings for both, and you could win a colorful bird-themed kitchen towel. Click here.
"Hi Suzanne, here's my best bird story. It happened a long time ago, but I remember it so clearly. -- Jennie R.
Walking home from school one day, in 5th grade, I saw a rather large baby bird semi-covered with white fluffy down, at the foot of a very tall palm tree. It wasn't what I'd call cute, but I've always had a soft spot for any bird or animal in need of help. So I wrapped it up in my jacket and took it home. One of my parents, likely my dad, identified it as a baby barn owl. Off to the neighborhood market I went to purchase raw chicken livers and gizzards to feed the little thing. It devoured them like a champ!
Amazingly, the next day's walk home from school yielded another baby at the foot of the very same tree. It was a wonder neither suffered injuries in their long drop from their nest! Luckily, we had an old chicken coop at the bottom of our backyard my dad hadn't gotten around to tearing down, as we'd just recently moved to the house. The abandoned boxes were perfect for the owlets. They grew quickly and started developing feathers, along with very sharp talons. I had to wear an old pair of my dad's leather work gloves to have them perch on my forearm. I named them Barney and Windy...Barney was the larger of the two, so we assumed he was a male and Windy a female. Once they started to fly in the backyard, we left the door to the coop open at night, hoping they'd begin to learn the skills needed to hunt for food on their own. For the first week or so, they would fly off in the evening, but morning would find them tucked in their wooden boxes. The second week they came back sporadically, and by the third week they were gone--off to their new lives. After that, whenever I saw an owl fly overhead in the evenings I imagined it was one of them waving hello. I'm 62 now and still love to see owls in silent flight and they often feature in my dreams."
Gail G., writes: "I have a bluebird house in my backyard and have a constant stream of beautiful families in residence during their season. I have spent many happy hours watching their cycle of life. Both parents are totally involved in the whole process, and the patience displayed when coaxing the babies to fly from the nest is truly an inspiration! Watching this miracle unfold has definitely helped me get through the quarantine....as has your column! Keep doing what you do!"
"While often wishing the squirrels would not feast quite so frequently at our suet feeder, I didn't realize a bird would solve the problem. Lately, each time the squirrels arrive, a grackle appears and zooms around the squirrels, squawking and flapping her wings just inches from their heads. Turns out she has a nest in the arborvitae near the feeder and is one protective mama. I haven't seen a squirrel near the feeder in days." -- Eileen T.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
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For kids and teens for love the time travel of A Wrinkle in Time, the history of Little House on the Prairie, and the wizardry of Harry Potter all in one, THE LAST CRYSTAL by Frances Schoonmaker. For a chance to win free copies, to talk with the authors, and more, click here for KIDSBUZZ.
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