Inspired By Nature

Today I had a nature filled day, and right outside my kitchen window!

Outside of my kitchen window is a big tree. I noticed two squirrels playing on the tree. I don't know if they are mates or siblings, but they sure are cute! I watched them for about a half hour. This one took a nap while the other played nearby on my deck.

 Here is the one that played around on the deck. My goal is to get them tame or not run away when I go outside. There was a blog I read last year and the lady had a squirrel that became tame and would come into their house for food! lol How cute would that be? lol

 Eventually the squirrel became tired of playing alone so it climbed up the tree to wake up the one that was napping! Notice the five toes with sharp nails on it's back feet. It only has four toes on its front feet!

 While I think they are adorable, my husband hates them and calls them "furry rats!" He is planning on cutting the remaining three trees that we have in our yard! That makes me very sad!

 After it woke up the other, they decided to run around on the branches! They reminded me of little monkeys. Again...oooh sooo cute!

 Squirrel number 2 reminds me of myself...very clumsy! lol

 Since I was totally surprised by the squirrels today, I did not have time to mess with the settings on my camera. So this action shot was very blurry! I love how squirrel number 1 is a big blur!

 Also during my day I noticed a big commotion in my backyard! Again this year we have a bird nest that is on the boy's clubhouse. This time she built it on the ledge and this year I have been very respectful and have given her her space. Remember last year when I photographed the nest everyday? You can read about that here. If you go back through after that post you can view all of the stages from building the nest to the baby birds leaving the nest. It's very educational!

I really left the nest alone because I was too chicken to get up close and take the chance of being attacked by the mama bird! lol

Anyway I noticed this huge commotion in my backyard. The birds left the nest today and Allie got one! I was soo upset! She didn't kill it thankfully, so I woke my husband up and he put it in the neighbor's yard where Allie can't get to it! But all these birds were out there attacking her! Not just robins, but big black birds and small tiny birds! It was quite a sight to see! Here is a photo after my husband relocated the baby. A couple of birds sat on the fence and watched over it. It was very weird. They do not appear to be robins, but they seemed concerned. I also noticed in this shot that you can see the mama bird in the middle of the photo in flight! I feel really bad, but like my husband says..."that's part of nature!" The other baby bird was able to fly to safety, while the remaining third remained in the nest. I kept Allie in all day long and took her out only under supervision!

 Later in the evening this is what we noticed on our deck. The third baby bird flew out of the nest and somehow landed on our deck! Isn't it soo sweet with that fluffy little head!

 The mama bird was never very far. You can see the baby on the deck at the bottom left, and the mama in the tree at the upper right!

 We watched her as she fed it a worm. Within a couple minutes later she returned with this huge worm, but the poor baby refused to eat it! I don't blame her! lol

 So the mama bird walked around with it for a few minutes.....

And then returned and tried to shove it down the poor baby's throat! lol  

A few hours later we were off to hockey practice and the baby bird was off of the deck. I had my husband walk around to make sure it was safe and it was nowhere to be found!

What a wonderful day filled with nature! :)