Daily affirmations of a word mercenary
Mother Bird
6Feb2003 Filed under: JournalishThe pidge on our balcony almost never leaves her nest. This is a bit of a problem as she’s chosen a testy potted plant as her roost — a drama-queen of a plant that drops all its leaves and wilts exhibitionistically if you go more than two days with out watering it.
Some mornings, I can hear Jaqueline (yes, that’s her name) fly away for a minute or two…I assume to get some food. The sound of her wings flapping is enough to wake me out of a dead sleep, and when I hear it I jump out of bed, throw on a robe, grab some water, and try to water the plant before Jaqi returns. Yesterday I didn’t make it in time, and she was just settling back in when I appeared with my water. She flew off quickly, but not before she made a pointed aggressive display of buzzing Andreas, who was standing at the balcony door.
I watered the plant as quickly as possible, and high tailed it away so that she could return to her egg.
But what are we going to do once the chick hatches? Pigeons can be very protective of their nests once eggs hatch! If need be, I will sacrifice the plant for the good of the pidgies. I know, I know…but who needs a drama queen plant, anyway? It’s always been a pain in the ass.
Where is my resident ornitholigist? Dad, got any advice?
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6 Responses to “Mother Bird”
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Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, is in bookstores now.
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chris
February 6th, 2003 at 10:23 am
Ah … can you get a hose and leave it drapped into the pot? Then when ya need to water the plant just turn on the water
Ariel
February 6th, 2003 at 11:50 am
But it’s an apartment balcony…we have no hose nozzle. I did think about a contraption with some tubing and a funnel…sort of a like a plant watering beer bong. But that’s pretty time intensive.
DA
February 6th, 2003 at 12:19 pm
I suspect (don’t really know–never raised pigeons) that you’ll find J. and child more adaptive than you expect. Very urban, social birds, easily domesticated, I’m told. Besides, it’s YOUR porch, and she needs to share a little. So, valiantly move beyond the purely ornithological and into the teleological! You’re a part of her process. Have a ritual, state intentions, and relax.
Echo
February 6th, 2003 at 12:58 pm
I’m going with your pops!
darian
February 6th, 2003 at 2:45 pm
You may want to be careful, baby pigeons bring mites. Mites are like fleas except like red dots. When they get into your apt they breed like crazy. We had the same thing happen on my old balcony. We ended up having to bomb the apartment. Anyway I think my sister now throws the eggs off the side…thats good cause i don’t live there anymore.
Ariel
February 6th, 2003 at 10:46 pm
Darian, that’s not good news. I’ll keep an eye out.