{dirt 60631} Expectant Mama in Residence

{dirt 60631} chronicles Yvonne's garden journey in a Zone 5, Chicago city lot.

We think about and design gardens for our enjoyment.  However, sometimes nature reminds us that there are others who use and appreciate our gardens, especially in an urban environment ... specifically birds.  Many birds visit my garden throughout the year:  cardinals, blue jays, robins, black-capped chickadees, woodpeckers, wrens, grosbeaks, and more.  And, some birds even take up residence. 

Last year a pair of Cooper's Hawks took up residence in the tall White Pine in the back garden and we all watched and listened to them raise two babies ... we even took to calling the back garden 'the killing field' ... birds would come to feed at the feeder, and the hawks would come to the feeder to feed on the birds.  By mid-July, they moved on and things became a little more normal in the back garden. 

This year, a robin has decided to take up residence and raise her brood in one of the Boston Ferns hanging by the front door.  So for now, we use the back door and watch expectantly for the new young robins to poke their hungry mouths out of the nest.  There will be no rest for these parents; she's sitting on four eggs.  They'll hatch in a few more days and be gone in a few weeks; but, in the meantime, we're reminded that gardens aren't just for people.

When coming up the front stairs, BE WARNED:  Protective mama on guard duty!