A Nest for Mrs. Chickadee

A Nest for Mrs.Chickadee

"Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-can you help me-me-me?" sang Mrs. Chickadee as she perched on a branch of the old oak tree.

"What is the matter, little one?" asked Mrs.Robin as she took her morning shower in the birdbath below.

"I am making my first nest, and I don't know how to do it," peeped Mrs. Chickadee flying down to the birdbath.

Mrs. Chickadee put one tiny black foot into the water. "Mr. Chickadee said to ask the other birds in The Yard." she said.

"I always make my nest out of twigs and branches high up in the oak tree." said Mrs. Robin.

Mrs. Chickadee took a drink from the birdbath. "Thank you very much for your idea," she sang politely as she flew back onto the branch above.

Mrs. Chickadee didn't think her little eggs would be very comfortable in a nest of twigs and branches. She wanted something nice and soft for her babies. She was also afraid that her eggs could fall out of a nest so high up. She flew to the Front Yard, where a flock of big and little birds were picking through the grass looking for bugs and seeds.

"Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-Can you help me-me-me?" she sang.

"What can we help you with Mrs. Chickadee?" asked Mrs. Sparrow.

"I need to learn how to make a nest," she said,"I want to build it out of something nice and soft, and I want my eggs to be safe."

"I make my nest out of moss and hide it in a little bush," sang Mrs.Sparrow.

"Oh no, that is all wrong. I make my nest out of mud and dirt, and place it in the reeds near the River," warbled Mrs. Waterthrush.

"You are both wrong," said Mrs. Bluebird, "I use a warm, dry box that is safe from cats and snakes the Humans put up last year. I use pine needles for my nest."

Mrs.Chickadee thought the box sounded like a good idea. She certainly wouldn't have her babies near water where they could drown, or in a bush where a cat could get them.

"Mrs.Bluebird, could I use the box?" she asked.

"Yes dear, I don't need it until later this spring. Do you need some pine needles?" Mrs. Bluebird answered.

Mrs. Chickadee pictured her babies hatching in scratchy sticky pine needles.

"Thank you very much, but I want something very special for my babies."

Mrs. Chickadee flew back to her branch in the oak tree. She thought and thought about what to make her babies feel cozy and comfy.

As she was thinking a girl came outside with a little white dog. Mrs. Chickadee had known the dog since it was a puppy and was not afraid. The girl began to brush the dog's fur. As the girl brushed, she sang. Mrs.Chickadee sang her song, and the girl answered.

"Chick-a-dee-dee-dee" she sang.

"La da dee-dee-dee," answered the girl.

When the girl was done brushing her dog, she left a small pile of white, soft, downy fur on the grass.

Mrs. Chickadee flew down to the pile on the grass.
She felt how soft it was against her feathers.

"This is just the thing for my nest!" she cried.

She gathered the fur into her beak and flew to the bird box. She placed the fur gently on the bottom and perched on the top of the box.

"Chick-a-dee-dee-dee, Look at me-me-me!" she sang. "I will have the best nest, you just wait and see, see, see!"



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