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<DIV>I just found baby birds in a bird's nest snuggled in a window ledge next to
my air conditioner. (I wondered why a bird started yelling when I turned
it on, so I went out to investigate. Needless to say, I raced back in and
immediately turned it off, and now hope that the weather doesn't get too hot
until the babies have left their cozy home!)</DIV>
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<DIV>Anyway, it reminded me of my Blueberry. Blueberry loved everybody and
everything. If she'd had a Facebook page, she'd have had thousands of
Friends.</DIV>
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<DIV>One day we were on a walk in the woods. She never needed a leash,
never went further than a couple of yards from me. Then, suddenly, this
day, she disappeared. I looked into all the thick undergrowth and couldn't
spot her anywhere. I called and called -- no typical answering moo, or the
sound of those big old feet thrashing their way back to me.</DIV>
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<DIV>I was panicked, and plunged into the bushes and trees myself, calling and
not finding her, until I almost stepped on her. She was lying down, her
body wrapped protectively around a baby bird she'd found on the ground.
She looked into my eyes and it was such a human communication -- she was worried
about the baby and was trying to take care of her.</DIV>
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<DIV>While hoisting up her adorable extra-fluffy butt and half-carrying her
out of the woods, I congratulated her on being such a good, loving little girl,
and tried to explain that the baby's mama would take care of him, but she
wouldn't come around if she (Blueberry) were still there. I'm not sure she
believed me. She kept looking back.</DIV>
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<DIV>I was reminded of her when I saw the little babies in the nest
today. She was such a special, precious little dog, never hurt anything or
anyone, just wanted to love and be loved (and be fed, anything and
everything).</DIV>
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<DIV>Having the babies there brings up a question -- any birders out
there?</DIV>
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<DIV>By going online, I think I've figured out that the babies are robins, about
2 days old. (I didn't dare get near the nest itself because mom and dad
were flying around frantically when they spotted me, but I took a photo with a
telephoto lens and then zoomed in on the computer; then matched the picture and
the dad's call with photos and recordings online.)</DIV>
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<DIV>The information I've found seems to indicate that they'll leave the nest in
10-12 days. About three feet under the nest is a sloped bulkhead
door. (I'm postponing workmen who were going to have to use the
bulkhead for access.) Should I put something on the bulkhead
to soften the landing when the little fledglings leave the nest? Like
towels, or a chaise longue cushion? Or will the parents get too upset if
I'm putting something directly under the nest?</DIV>
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<DIV>Thanks for any advice! (My vet always called me "neurotic mama"
because I obsessed about everything with my girls -- I'm now carrying this over
to the birds, maybe in Blueberry's honor.)</DIV>
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<DIV>Beth H. (Duchess ATB and Blueberry ATB)</DIV>
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