Friends

03 June 2018

Love in the wild!


Living on ground level, in a single storey bungalow, certainly has its advantages. Bird watching, for example. If I lived higher up I would miss such a lot because much of the action occurs on ground level.

Have you ever seen birds mate? For several years the dunnocks would mate right by my lounge windows and being a curious creature myself I stood and watched. The procedure fascinated me, so different to the human way of mating. Then the dunnocks left and I almost forgot that yearly procedure. Until today when I discovered the birds had merely switched from back of the house to the front.

I was in the bedroom doing that daily chore of making the bed.

As I walked round the bed I heard a noise outside. Birds, I thought, as I rushed to the window. It’s an old habit after years of birdwatching. One cheep and either Joe or me would check the variety. Some bird sounds were clear to us but this one was just ‘a bird’.

Well, the noise that alerted me this time had nothing to do with birds but it was responsible for me catching sight of the dunnocks. Yes, they were at it again. I didn’t realise they had changed their mating spot. This time I was nearer to them so got a real lesson in how birds ‘do it’.

No romance at all. In fact, there’s not much getting together either. No lovemaking as we know it. First the birds do a little chase, usually led by the female. She does a lot of hopping on the spot while he flutters on a spot a few inches away from his ladylove. Then, presumably when she is ready for him, he jumps the small distance and fires! It takes all of one second, if that!. Then off they go, flying their separate ways, but no doubt they get together to raise the family.

And that’s it. All over.

Dunnocks nest in bushes rather than trees and there’s plenty of them at my place. I am thrilled that the birds have resumed the policy of years gone by and that is to make a nest near the patio window. Now I have great pleasure in awaiting the arrival of youngsters. 

17 comments:

  1. Oh Valerie, what a cute and charming post. I LOVED it!!!

    "Then, presumably when she is ready for him, he jumps the small distance and fires! It takes all of one second, if that!. "

    That made me chuckle out loud as I sit hear sipping my morning Caffe Americano.

    And yes, I have seen birds mate. I adore sitting in our city parks, so I get to see not only birds mate, but squirrels, and occasionally even DOGS. HA!

    Have a lovely Sunday, my friend!

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    1. Hi Ron, in all the years of bird watching I have never seen the mating process before. Perhaps the birds that frequent my garden have secret nooks which hide their mating. I shall complain to ... whoever is in charge of these creatures....lol.

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  3. Doesn't sound much funnock being a Dunnock. An ode to a poor song bird? Thanks for making me laugh.

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    1. Well, Dave, I haven't heard any grumbles in the garden.... lol.

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  4. All we see in our yard is the common house sparrow. We have several houses for them so there are lots of birds. They will mate anywhere even when it involves balance. We have this beaded decoration that swings in the wind. A female perched directly in the middle so to not disturb the balance of the stick and they did it! Watching the fledglings is almost as much fun, ha.

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    1. kden, I had to stop feeding the birds on a regular basis because the squirrels not only stole their food but they tore the bird tables to pieces as well. Devilish clever, these squirrels, and I hate them for being so destructive.

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  5. Beautifully written with your usual charm and humour. Great post. Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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  6. So it sounds like the dunnocks do a version of "wham, bam and thank you mam" and now I know about bird mating and I too have never seen any "do the deed" Valerie. Thanks for the education!

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    1. Beatrice, "wham, bam and thank you mam" - what a perfect description!

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  7. I have recently put up a couple of feeders on the balcony. So far I haven't seen any birds mating (too busy feeding) but I've got to know a large fat pigeon very well. He's getting fatter every day as he hoovers up after the little birds which scatter seeds everywhere. I hope he doesn't have a heart attack, perhaps I should try to encourage him to get a girlfriend LOL

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    1. Jenny, I dare you to try and get a girl friend for your pigeons... giggling here at the thought.

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  8. I often see our mourning doves running around after each other. It is such a funny sight it often makes me giggle. Their tiny feet go like the the clappers and usually they run the perimeter of the deck. Then off into the trees they go.

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    1. I agree with you, Denise, birds sure know how to move quickly.

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