Transformation is Fun to See

So first it was baby birds, then bunnies, and now worms.  I'm starting to think I need a pet other than our goldfish, Dorothy.

A few weeks ago, Alexa and I found two gigantic tomato horn worms on my tomato plants.

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I didn't think to take a picture of the naughty worms myself.  Click here for Photo Source.

In one day, those two monsters ate through the entire top third of my container tomato.  Needless to say, I wasn't pleased.  But, I figured we'd make the best of it and turn it into an educational experience.   So, we stuck the little guys in glass jars with a few inches of dirt on the bottom and plenty of tomato leaves for them to chew on.  They ate through all those leaves and were about the size of my ring finger before burying themselves in the dirt to form a chrysalis.

The Chrysalis' after the Moth's emerged

Two weeks later, they emerged as five-spotted hawk moths.  After their wings dried, we let them go outside.

Most likely, they're out making babies that will ruin my tomato plants next year.  Anything for educational opportunities, right?

The Bunny Lady

Last week, I discovered that a bunny had made a nest in my strawberry bed.  Part of me was excited because I think baby bunnies are the cutest things ever but the other part of me was perturbed because Paul had rigged up my strawberry bed with chicken wire and netting and critters weren't supposed to get in.  This was one smart bunny though and she found a way.

The strawberry plants in the area she built her nest in weren't looking too hot but I didn't feel like I could water them or interfere with them so I left them alone.  Paul thought I was crazy but there was no way I could harm the cute little furballs even if that meant by beloved strawberry bed  would suffer.

A couple days later when I went out to check on my strawberries and peek at the nest from afar, I saw that the nest had been disturbed a bit and one of the baby bunnies had been killed - and in a pretty terrible way.  There were two other baby bunnies still in the strawberry bed hiding under the leaves.  They looked scared too death.  I pondered for a bit on what I should do but then decided I couldn't bare to see the other two killed as well so I picked them up, made them a little nest in a shoebox, and brought them inside.

I spent the next hour googling on how to care for wild baby bunnies and found out it was very difficult.  The survival rate is pretty grim.  I gave it a try but no matter what I did those little guys wouldn't eat or drink for me.  I thought maybe they needed a little love and Alexa was happy to help with that.

Still no luck though.  So...then I googled who could care for wild baby bunnies.  I got in touch with a Wildlife Rehab group out of Omaha and they put me in touch with the Wildlife Rescue Team in Lincoln.  Prior to this, I had no idea such organizations even existed.  The on-call person I spoke with (yes, these wonderful people even work after hours) gave me the address for "The Bunny Lady".  She said this woman has a bunny crate on her front porch and I could drop the bunnies off anytime and she checks the crate many times a day.  She then cares for the bunnies until they get big enough to be released back into the wild.  

So, Alexa and I drove across town and dropped the bunnies off on on the porch of the "Bunny Lady".  I rang the doorbell because it's not every day you get to meet the "Bunny Lady" but she didn't answer.  I left a sticky note with my name and phone number asking that she call with an update if she wouldn't mind.  Before I even got home, the "Bunny Lady" had called our home number and left a message saying the bunnies were in great shape, I didn't need to worry and they should be just fine.  She said she thought they were about 8 or 9 days old.  She was going to start them off on some formula and she had four other bunnies about their same age that they could learn from.

Wow!  I was astounded that a group like this exists in our city and I think it's pretty wonderful.  The little guys are being well cared for and aren't ruining my strawberry bed.  Sounds pretty good to me!

By the way, Paul still thinks I'm completely crazy and tonight he fixed up my strawberry bed again to further "critter proof" it.  Gotta love him!

The Robin's Nest - An Update

If you didn't catch my first post about the Robin's Nest in our backyard, you can check that out here.  Paul has started calling me the "Bird Lady" because I'm a bit obsessed with my little feathered friends but I'm finding this whole process quite interesting and I enjoy getting to witness it so up close.  Anyway, to pick up where we left off...

A week or so after all four eggs were laid, Daddy bird disappeared.  I don't know if that is common for Daddy birds or not but I found it a bit sad.  He had been bringing Mommy bird food while she sat on the eggs and it was the sweetest thing.  It looked like they were kissing.  But with Daddy bird gone, Mommy bird had to do all the work herself and I felt bad for her.   Around this time, I found one of the little blue eggs sitting inside the flower basket but outside of the nest.  It had a very small crack in it and I assumed that Mommy bird had pushed it out of the nest.  I wasn't sure why but guessed that Mommy bird either realized this bird wasn't going to make it or knew she couldn't care for four eggs on her own.

Mommy bird became even more protective of her nest around this time.  She didn't like us to go into the backyard at all and would dive bomb me anytime I peeked in the nest.  I can't say as though I blame her but like I said before it wasn't really a prime location for her to place her nest.

Also, my hanging basket of pansies doesn't look so good anymore.  Momma bird wasn't a fan of me watering the plant around her nest and so it's gotten pretty sad looking.

Oh, and in case you didn't catch the first post or forgot, Day 1 is the day Mommy bird starting building her nest....

Day 19 - May 16th

The first baby bird hatched!!  This was 14 days after the first egg was laid.  It looks as though he or she is trying to pull his baby brother or sister out.

A few hours later, baby bird #2 hatched!

Day 20 - May 17th

Baby bird #3 hatched

Day 22 - May 19th

Baby bird #3 went to bird heaven.  I think taking care of three baby birds was just too much for Mommy bird to do alone.  It didn't appear like she could keep up with the feeding and it was incredibly hot with no overhead protection.  We tried to put the patio umbrella over the nest to offer some shade but it scared Mommy bird and she wouldn't come towards the nest so I had to remove it.  With all that stacked against her, Mommy bird did what she had to do and only two baby birds were left.

Day 24 - May 21st

The baby birds eyes started to open and their feathers really started to come in.

Day 25 - May 22nd

Baby bird #2 was gone.  I have no idea what happened to it.  At this point, my heart couldn't take it so Alexa and I went to the pet store and bought some mealworms.   I wanted to do whatever I could to help Mommy bird out so at least one of her babies would make it.

Day 26 - May 23rd

I put a little tupperware lid inside the hanging basket but outside of the nest.  I would put some mealworms on the lid every few hours or so.

Mommy bird would come and pick the worms up and give them to baby.  It worked out quite nicely and I told myself that Mommy bird appreciated the effort even though she would still squawk and dive bomb me every time I went outside.

Day 29 - May 26th

Baby bird started getting big and not so ugly. 

Day 31 - May 28th

The day started off with baby bird becoming more adventurous.

Then he (or she) started to test out his (or her) wings

And then tonight when Paul went outside, baby bird got scared and flew right out of the nest.  It was really fun to see him (or her) wander around and explore our backyard.

So one month after Mommy bird made her nest in the hanging flower basket on our back patio, one baby bird survived and is out hopping around our backyard as cute as can be.  I've enjoyed this experience very much but it will be nice to be able to walk into my backyard without fearing for my life and I will encourage Mommy bird to make her next nest in a more appropriate location.

The Robin's Nest, Day 1 - Day 8

If you’ve ever been in the market for a home you may have heard the top 3 rules to keep in mind when buying real estate: 

1) LOCATION

2) LOCATION

3) LOCATION

But, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in some of the other features of a home and forget about these three rules.  For Mr. and Mrs. Robin who live in our backyard, they decided to pick the location of their new home apparently on the “beauty factor” rather than picking an adequate location.

You see, they decided to build their nest right in the middle of my hanging pansy basket which arguably is a very pretty place for a nest.  However, this basket hangs about 6 feet from our backdoor and we are outside a lot.  It also has absolutely no overhead protection and when you live in Nebraska there is a lot of wind, rain, and even hail and some protection would be helpful.

So, although Alexa and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Mr. and Mrs. Robin build their nest from our back windows, I think they’ll pick a new location next time.  First, because I'm quite sure they are tired of squawking at us every time we walk outside and I’m afraid their nest (and Mrs. Robin’s head) are getting quite wet with all the rain we’ve had.  

Anyway, here’s a timeline of Mr. and Mrs. Robin’s nest building and egg laying.  You can go ahead and tell me I need to get a life if you want but when you are stuck at home with nothing better to do, why not document this process and have fun and teachable moments while doing so.  

Day 1 - April 28th, 2012

Mrs. Robin started building her nest

Day 2 - April 29th, 2012

Mrs. Robin was hard at work making the nest just right

She kept busy by bringing straw, sticks, and grass to the nest

It amazed me how much she could carry at once

She just kept on bringing more and more

Feeling proud of all her work

All while Mr. Robin stood watch from a distance

Good job, Mrs. Robin.  That is a lovely nest!

Day 3 & 4 - Nothing exciting took place

Day 5 - May 2nd, 2012

Mrs. Robin laying her first egg

First Egg!

Day 6 - May 3rd, 2012

Two Eggs!

Alexa taking a peek

Day 7 - May 4th 2012

3 Eggs

Day 8 - May 5th, 2012

4 Eggs!

Mrs. Robin stopped at 4 eggs and she's protecting them like it's nobody's business.  I don't even feel like I can step foot in my backyard right now.  So, we're hoping in a couple of weeks to see some baby birds in there as long as Mr. (or Mrs.) Squirrel stays out of the way.  He (or she) has been quite interested in these eggs!

For an updated post on the Robin's Nest, click here.