Mom So Blue

You know how kids manage arrange disasters when you have other plans.

We heard her anger even inside the house. “Momma told you to stay put. Now you’ve done it, you darn kids.”

Really? You’ve got to be kidding. All I ask is a few minutes to grab a bite for myself. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Both fledglings tumbled down like out-of-control helicopters.

The more athletic one careened, realized it wasn’t going well with his not-ready-for-prime-time wings, and managed to clutch a cluster of crepe myrtle blooms before slingshotting itself into a fork in the trunk. (Must be a fan of America Ninja Warrior show.)

The largest one, who belly-flopped a flowerbed mound of yellow Mexican daisy vines, tried to bluff that it was the plan all along.

Mother Blue Jay’s sigh was loud enough to be heard inside.

She abandoned her flight plan (“There goes my morning fig brunch bunch”), banked, and returned to asses the situation.

Inside, we bribed RC Cat with food and catnip to leave the window. The solar screens do block the view, but there was little doubt that Bird Mom was screeching “that cat might lunge out at anytime – even a fat cat(she was too busy to be PC) can be a fast mover. And you know about that old urban myth about the overly enthusiastic dog that “friended” the little squirrel to his ruin? Well, it’s not a myth.”

The next hour was excruciating for everyone.(Except the cat who was flying without wings.)

It’s hide and peep. Mother bluejay perched on fence evaluating babies down. As seen through screen.(© Image)

Mom So Blue marshaled her drill sergeant chirp to coax the treed one into attempting short flights to the fence where he could walk across to a safer location.

Unfortunately the underdeveloped tail feather guidance system landed him on top of a short hedge where she pushed the struggling little guy to over to the twin towering Spanish Dagger plants with hawk discouraging, razor-sharp edged, stabbing like needles pointed leaves. (“Be careful. You’ll put your eye out!”)

I never knew that with beak and claws, a bird could make like a mountain climber and inch by inch walk up a vertical rough trunk. Luckily the Yucca didn’t laugh, ignored the tickling, and didn’t giggle him off.

Exhausted, the little guy finally reach the first level of horizontal branches and wedged himself against the trunk for a brief rest.

“Don’t even think about stopping now,” Mom bellowed. “You maypole around that plant from leaf to leaf until you get to the top, and then wait there while I get that lump of your brother up, too.” That must have been the good child.

“Is this OK, Mom?” “Sit still. Look green while I get your brother.” (© Image)

The larger fledgling sullenly sat in the dirt making no attempt to gain air.

When Mom So Blue coasted beside him, he angrily bawled “What took you so long? I’m staving.” And opened his mouth so wide everyone could see all the way to down to there. (Not exactly empty – or attractive.)

Mom raised a wing and I was sure she was gonna slap him, but knowing her own child, she gave in and went for some fast food. (Swear there was a bit of beak clacking about “ought to leave you down there for the hawk…”)

Smugly the fat little fuzzball offered, “Well, maybe I have enough strength to move an inch…”

Mom had had enough. Shoved him toward the bush and ordered him to move up by his brother fast. Emphasized by an insistent little beak tap.

Complaining how FPS (Fledgling Protection Service) should intervene, the grumpy child hopped across the hedge top like one of those spiders skipping across lake water. (All the time with great show of flapping fluff…after all he’s a bird. Wanted his mom to acknowledge the fact.)

Some things are black and white: Mother knows best. (© Image)

Eventually Tweeting Dee and Tweetie Glum figured out how to ladder up the crossing leaves to fence level.

Then, Mom So Blue marched them down the fence towards the dense fig tree foliage.

Waddling and complaining the whole time. “So embarrassing. What if the flock sees us?” they wailed.

“Shake what tail feathers you have, ” she said stoically.

Secret lines of the blues.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

A Wing Note: The baby down event happened Friday when this was written. Maybe the Universe was either kind or had a premonition – prodded those two fledglings to jump early.

There was a huge sudden thunderstorm Saturday afternoon which ripped through with micro burst strength. The blue jay nest is no longer in the tree. The Crepe Myrtle tree cradling it was whipped so badly it had to shed any weight it could to save major branches. Both of the Spanish Dagger plants in the pictures were snapped off at about 2 feet. Hopefully the Blues found shelter in the dense bushes.

There are baby birds down everywhere. Molly looks down during our late walk and spotted one tiny fluff ball frozen in fear on the sidewalk. Considerate as she is, Molly quietly stepped back. We considered, but soon realized the mother was swooping from a nearby tree trying to draw attention away. We moved quickly away. Hopefully the Bird Mom was able to get her little one to hop and hop over to the cover of some dense bushes. Sometime not being allowed to have outdoor cats is fortunate. 

The life of birds is a hard one, yet they still manage to still sing. 

(Happy update: Mom So Blue glided in this afternoon not 3 feet from me to get a sip of cool water from the dog bowl and gave a smug little wink before heading off. We’ve heard them all having conversations in the fig tree next door. Teenagers.)

Need more yucca? Spanish Dagger plant trying on Halloween costumes, or another costume attempt here, or maybe Yucca begging to keep a found pet….

“What is taking Lardo so long? Forget your pride and hop to it, bro!”(© Image)

Birds undercover of Yucca. Look carefully and you can see one of them resting up for the ultimate humility of walking home followed continually nagging  mom. (© Image)

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