In mid-June, when we returned from our vacation, I noticed that there was dry grass and leaves in one of my topiary trees in our front entry. I figured it was probably our gardeners who blow the yard when they are finished and they blew some dead grass into this plant.
At the base of the little tree are more twigs and grass bits.
And upon closer inspection it appeared that it wasn't the gardeners but perhaps a bird attempted to start a nest in the tree and didn't quite finish. Maybe because we had returned home and pass by this tree several times a day?
So I kept watch to see if the bird might return and finish the nest. But in 45 days there has been no sight of a resident. I decided to clean up the tree (it's supposed to have a round top) and I wanted to pull out the grass. As I moved around to the side of the tree, I noticed a nice little cup shaped nest behind the loose grass.
And there were three blue speckled eggs inside! I decided to let it be for a few more weeks to see if there was any activity.
Nothing. So today I pulled the nest out. The eggs feel light and empty so I am wondering if they were abandoned and dried up in this unbearable heat?
So....who done it?
Not the gardener.....
But a good possibility is the House Finch!
Upon doing some "little blue eggs" research, it appears that a number of birds lay 3-5 eggs that are blue with brown splotches and the House Finch seems to be a likely suspect.
The male has some red on his head and chest while the female is plain. Above is an Oak Titmouse and a male House Finch.
"When I learn something new -
and it happens every day -
I feel a little more at home in this universe,
a little more comfortable in the nest"
-- Bill Moyers
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