Gray Jays

I was so excited when my husband and son-in-law finally got around to replacing the rotting wooden porch railing.  The big front porch is what had attracted us to this house in the first place; after eleven years here, it was about time it got spruced up so we could enjoy it.

As they worked on the railing, my daughters and I worked in the garden.  By the end of the day, the porch and gardens were lovely. 

It wasn’t long before a pair of gray jays discovered the sheltered, interior branches of the front bush and built a sturdy, little nest lined with the soft cotton and string I’d put out for them.  A few weeks after seeing the nest, I peered between the leaves and saw three little eggs; bluish with brown flecks.  I couldn’t wait for them to hatch.

I kept the bird feeders full and placed a handful of seed on the porch every morning so the parents wouldn’t have to fto travel far for food.  My efforts were rewarded Saturday morning when I went out to read a magazine with my morning tea and was greeted by two squeaking little hatchlings.  As I peeked into the nest, the two little, pink blobs popped their heads up and peeped as loud as they could, opening their bright yellow mouths wide, waiting to be fed.

I’d taken photos of the nest, the eggs, and the parents; now it was time for some baby pictures.  As I focused the camera, holding back a branch for a better view, a cacophony of squawking broke out from the neighbor’s rooftop.  There sat the parents, glaring angrily.  I took a couple of quick photos and turned to leave when one of the adult birds flew directly at my head, screeching wildly.  She pulled up at the last instant, flapping her wings in my face.  The father followed in the same manner, dive bombing me until I went inside.

Today, all I have to do is open the front door and those two birds go crazy!  They flap and shriek as soon as I step outside, jumping from the bush to the railing to keep me away from their precious young ones.    I have to laugh at their antics; I wouldn't want a huge beast ogling my babies, either!  I can only sit on the far side of the porch to read without being attacked by the protective pair, and even then they eye me suspiciously.

The gardenias smell wonderful this morning and as I sit here typing on my laptop, the jays are flying back and forth bringing insects to their hungry babies; they are such fun to watch.  I hope they’ll return again next year.