These birds have been consistently giving birth in our backyard since 2004. Well, I should say I actually accidentally discovered their nest in 2004, when I reached on top of our storage cabinet outside by the pool to wipe off what I thought was a pile of debris. (I suddenly screamed when the pile of debris started moving after I touched it!) There really is no way of telling how long the nest was there.
The cabinet and nest were both destroyed during the first hurricane of the terrible hurricane season that year. We were beyond thrilled when the birds returned and built another nest on our hurricane shutters. (They have since built a vacation nest just around the corner from this nest, but they haven’t had any babies there yet).
The birds are constantly reproducing. As soon as one pair hatches, grows, and flies away, the mom and dad bird re-secure the nest and start all over again.
I will try to follow this new pair on their quick journey of growth. (I actually have a video of them playing with their mom this morning and the mom, I swear, has the biggest smile of pride on her face. Unfortunately, the file is too big and wouldn’t download). In about a week they will be grown and the mom and dad will help them leave the nest and fly.
I love our birds. It is amazing to me that they always return. It is also extremely metaphoric, especially now that Adrienne will be starting high school and Erica will be starting middle school next week. My, how they grow and leave the nest so quickly.