Hi tweets:

In the midst of all the debate over who is more in tune with the environm=
ent =0D
or not, I thought the following urban message would be welcome. This was=
=0D
sent to me by a friend who is much more in to hunting (a gun and kife =0D
collector, etc.) than bird watching of any sort. At a land surveyor's mee=
ting =0D
he told me about a robin nest next to his front door; this is a follow up=
=0D
from him. Maybe its the optimist coming out, but I like it. Seems to me=
=0D
that a small exposure to birds in the real world, even in town, can affec=
t =0D
even a jaded attitude.


"Remember back at the last meeting, I told you of the mother Robin nestin=
g
four eggs beside our breezeway door? She has dutifully sat those eggs si=
nce
that time, and they are hatched now. Three are, anyway.
You had warned me that she may have a change of attitude about me being
around after she has the little ones in the nest. In this case, she hasn=
=92t.
I can talk to her as I stand 3 feet away, and she now has no problems wi=
th
me using the door as long as I am slow and quiet about it. She will fly =
over
and perch on the gate 5 feet away while I look into her nest briefly to c=
ount
her little ones (I am not quite tall enough to see all the way, so I use =
a
mirror).
Today there are two adult Robins feeding the babies. One Robin is skitti=
sh.
I assume the newcomer, the skittish one, is the mother Robin=92s mate b=
ecause
that is what Mr Rogers says and I live in his wonderful neighborhood. Is
that so? What are the different markings for the male? If he didn=92t =
help
feed the youngsters, could he be held liable? =20
It is interesting to note that the concrete under her nest is littered wi=
th
cherry pits. She has been feeding on those, except when I water the lawn.
She then hunts for worms under the sprinkler. She doesn=92t seem to car=
e for
grilled cod marinated in a dill sauce, and she passes up Cheetos. She m=
ust
be young, and doesn=92t know how to eat right yet."

-------------------------------------
Name: Jerry Broadus
jbroadus at seanet.com
901-16th. St S.W.
Puyallup, Wa. 98371
206-845-3156
07/15/96
07:47:31