Mr. Blue
As I was thinking about a new blog story, I noticed two bluebirds on the roof near my loft window. (The same window near the computer that is responsible for a lot of 'daydreaming' time.) It made me think of the bluebird family that made our porch their own for several summers. And the ones that spent a lot of their time watching the humans through the windows. She had an uncanny way of appearing at the very window where we were--bedroom, livingroom, kitchen, even bathroom window! (You can read the whole story of Mr. and Mrs. Blue in the archives).
Bluebird House by the bedroom door
We haven't seen the couple since a morning in late winter of this year. A beautiful, sunny morning that made one think spring is just "around the corner". (The weather later turned out to be very deceiving!) But, that morning as we sat in bed drinking our coffee and looking out the window, a bluebird flew to the window and attached herself to the screen. It had to be Mrs. Blue dropping in to say "hello, we're back!"
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| Early morning visitor at the window |
Then, a few days later, the very first day of spring, we were bombarded with 14 inches of snow! It snowed all day! Beautiful snow day! For humans, that is! We never saw our sweet little bluebird lady again. We think the bird couple, and probably other birds, weren't quite prepared for a late snowfall, and fell victim to the cold and packed snow that covered the ground and, therefore, any food they would have needed to survive. Yes, we fed the birds during the snow (and all winter), but bluebirds don't eat seeds, and we have never been able to get them to eat the bugs, suet, and berries that bluebirds supposedly will eat.
Backyard Baby Bluebird--new generation
We'll never be sure what happened to Mr. and Mrs. Blue who gave us so much pleasure. Later this spring, another bluebird couple took up residence in the box by the bedroom window. It obviously wasn't her. We think it was probably one of her grown up babies who remembered the family home and made it home for the next generation. We watched these babies as they hatched, were fed by frantic parents, and finally flew away. We still miss Mr. and Mrs. Blue, but we feel blessed to have been the hosts for three summers for a special bird family. Our porch (and screens :-( aren't the same without them :-)
Be Like the Bird
Be like the bird, who
Halting in his flight
On limb too slight
Feels it give way beneath him,
Yet sings
Knowing he hath wings.
Victor Hugo
