State of the Nest

Quite early this morning while I was still in bed, I heard the coo and peculiar whirring sound that mourning doves' wings make, and looking sideways out the bedroom window, I saw a bird perched on the trellis. Must have been time for a shift change.

Watching a bird on a nest is kind of like watching paint dry - there's not much going on. Plus, it's important not to disturb the nesting bird. So I usually take a peek in the morning when I get up and in the evening when I come home, and not much else. The nest is so carefully hidden in the wisteria that it's sometimes hard to see more than the blur of dove-brown feathers. These birds have chosen their nesting place well!

This morning as the heat of the day built up, I went to the window to lower the blinds - it keeps the house cool. I noticed an interesting phenomenon. The wisteria leaves were turned upward and folded on themselves, instead of lying flat and open. I imagine this is how the plant conserves its moisture in the sun - reducing the surface area exposed to the hot rays.

It made it easier for me to see the bird, and easier to show you, too.