A tragedy has occurred here. Hildy's eggs are gone. There were four happy little eggs there on Wednesday as I worked in the garden. Hildy fussed at me from time to time when she thought me to be too close, but didn't leave her nest to try to lure me away with her act of injuries.
Yesterday morning after I harvested strawberries and asparagus and checked on all my little seedlings popping up out of the ground, I meandered over to check on Hildy and Henry. Only two eggs were there and Hildy was in quite a state of distress. Henry was flying circles overhead and calling to her with his high pitched warning. "Dweep, dweep, dweep." he called over and over and she answered with her own call. I had heard them when I awoke, but didn't think much about it. I am used to hearing them.
Today is a very sad day. No eggs. No warning calls or contented chatter. Hildy is wandering forlornly in the garden. I am so sad for her. I was looking forward to watching the little family emerge from the eggs and run into the grass to eat bugs.
I would have thought the eggs to be safer than they were last year, in the gravel drive. I wonder what predator got them. No tell-tell evidence of cracked shells remain. I am thinking it was Petey, the old hump backed possum that lives among the various tools in the barn.
I hope it was not Mr. Martha, the boy cat I raised from a bottle. I really hope I did not raise a murderer! I would feel so guilty ........
9 comments:
No, it was the possum. Anybody domestic would have left evidence because they have some conscience. Well, they would not have the need to consume to the last morsel. Mr. Martha would leave the egg shells, for crying out loud.
Maybe a snake? We've found one in the chicken house. It could swallow shells and all. I agree that Mr. Martha would have left the shells.
Awwww poor Hildy (and Kathy). Hopefully they will start another clutch of eggs soon.
Our three little sparrow babies disappeared overnight, too. Nature is harsh. How about those campers?
Oh, nature can be cruel! It can break our hearts, but that is the way of life. Some animal is well fed about now. :(
And it was NOT Martha!
"Kath's Kampground Kapers" has been included in the A Sunday Drive for this week. Be assured that I hope this helps to point even more new visitors in your direction.
http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-sunday-drive_26.html
Kathy--I'm sorry the eggs disappeared. However, they fed nature. I always feel bad when the zebra loses out to a lion, and yet what do I expect the lion to do--go to the grocery store?
I read your Thursday post about the idiotic customer. I guess there's no limit to stupidity. THAT is why I work with 3rd graders and not adults... ;)
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