Friday Farm Fotos: The Empty Nest

A few months ago during cold weather, I slipped while walking in wet shoes on the slick concrete floor in our garage. Thankfully, I didn't fall, but during my stumble and clumsy attempt to keep from hurting myself I knocked over a little plastic yard chicken that Hubby bought me and broke the head off. I kept the pieces and tried to remind myself to buy some Super Glue, but time went on and I kept forgetting about it.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a wren trying to build a nest inside the headless chicken, which was now laying sideways on a shelf next to my car. I checked one day to see if anything was going on in there, and sure enough, there were three tiny eggs. Once the babies hatched, I was delighted to be able to walk out the back door and hear the faint peeping coming from inside. And occasionally I would even catch a glimpse of mom and dad bringing food to them.

Yesterday, I was in the kitchen and heard some shrill bird calls and bumping noises coming from the garage and remembered the little bird family so I thought I had better go investigate. Once outside, I discovered the calls were coming from Mrs. Wren, who was coaxing her babies out of the nest~ and the bumping noises I heard were the sounds of them fluttering and trying to fly for the first time.

Everyone seemed to be doing okay~ except for Baby #3.

On his first attempt at flight the poor thing got stuck between an old tennis shoe and the wire shelf.

I had to giggle after I snapped this picture~ 

you can almost see the look of bewilderment on his face at this huge new world.

He finally made it to the ground..... 

but by this time momma and the two siblings were getting farther and farther away.

He hopped and rested...

And hopped and rested....

I could see the tiny little heart fluttering in his chest.

He finally made it to the grass, and now momma's chirps and calls were louder than before, 

like she was saying, "Hurry! Come to safety with us!"

So with one big burst of energy, he flew....

Not high, and not very pretty, but he flew~

to somewhere in these trees where he was reunited with his mom and siblings.

I smiled as I heard them chattering to each other.

But then I felt a little sad when I walked back to the house and saw this....

And it was so quiet, where there had once been peeps and chirps and lots of activity....

This morning I glued my chicken back together.

And for some reason I never paid any attention to what the chicken is holding until today.....

Do you think Mr. and Mrs. Wren built the nest there by chance?

Nah, me either..... :)

Happy Friday!