WHO was their real estate / rental agent!?? (Burd Tail)

[Cinder & Smoke]

They're *HERE*!!
THREE (lil) ***BURDz***

BURDletz #1 an #2 pecked out summtyme Thurzday;
an #3 pooped outta da shell inna dark tuday (Friday)!

We thunk sumpin wuz *up* Wensday nite...
got home aftur dark an da Nest-Sitter dint wanna get *off* da nest -
we dint eben see him/her when we slid up da 'grassway'.
Dad sed "OMG" an got da lektrik flashylite an went down fur a *look*...

BURD eyes inna lite beam! UN-happie Burd sittin ONNA nest!
Dad sed "Skooze me!" an left inna hurrie.

Thurzday Mornin: sorta da same thing -
Momma Burd *sittin* an dint wanna leave when we slid down da grass.
Daddy Burd sat by da street *hollerin* at us!
Momma sorta stood up - an we kuld see da three lil eggyz inna nest.

Ree-peet Thurzday nite -
Nest Sitter hardly moved when we slid up da 'grassway'
headin fur da garage. "Guard Burd" only made a kuppla aerial passes
ober da kar. We left well enuff alone an went in ta cook dinner...

Rukkiss started purdy quick durrin dinner prep...
KEE! KEE! KEE! KEEEEEEEEEE!
Burdz flyin rite up to da kichin winnows!
Kee! KEE! KEEEEEEE!
We hollered at Dad ~ "DAD! Burdz are kallin fur HELP!"

Dad snapped on da floody lite up onna end of da Howse...
Six eyes lookin out... An den we *spotted* da PROBLEM!
BIG black KAT - *slinkin* across da drive -
headed fur da NEST!

OMG!
Dad hollerz "KAAAAT! Get OUTTA der! DangIt!
How'd Boots get *outside*!??"

Poor Bootsy - he wuz jest loungin onna kichin island - *watchin*
Dad's dinner burger an slice a cheeze...
He heard da "KAT" holler an made a Mad Dash fur da fallin wadder klozit!
We tell'd Dad dat wuzint OUR Kat inna drive!
"Ooooh..." sed Dad.

Den it wuz "Sun uvva ??___" an Dad flew out da door onna frunt porch...
He kalled dat Kat bout ebberthin BUT a Kat...
DAD! Da nayburz are gonna hear ya! Watch yur language!

Dad back in - slammed da door - dashed down inna basement -
(hiz hard feets were down dere...) -
garage door went up - Dad fliez out wiffa lekrtik flashylite -
STILL *SKREEMIN* atta BIG Kat!

Maw & Paw Burd are *frantik* - KEE! KEE! KEEEEEEE!
We're up inna dinin room - BARKIN* our fool hedz off!

Dad *sprintz* down da drive to da Nest...
KAN'T FIND da EGGz!
Where'z dat *freakin* KAT!????
More *BARKIN* an KEE! KEEE! KEEEEE!

Dunno WHERE da KAT went - prolly de-sided he bettur haul his
big butt outta towne!

Dad *searchez* fur da Nest - BURDz are *quietin down* a bit -
but still flyin a tite formation overhead...
Dad'z onna hanz & kneez - *searchin*...

OMG! THERE they are!
TWO tiny micro-Minniez of Mom & Dad Burd -
layin on toppa #3 EGGy - *SAFE* & *Sound* inna Nest! WHEEEEW!

Dad searched round da Burd Sankshuairy Area fur Da KAT...
then came up near da BigHowze ta stand *guard* fur a while.
Wunna da Burdz cirkled down near da Nest - den *hopped ober* to
check da Kidz inna Nursery.

Our Dad came back in - mutterin bout da Dang KAT!
We wuz still purdy uppyset - talked Dad into lettin US out ta
do a Kat Patrol. Hadda put on our Gypsy Gear -
da *blinkie lite* anna *klanger bell* - an we went out fur da
Big Kat Hunt... Found nuffin!

Wun Burd still hoppin round doin some warnin Kee! KEEE! kallin -
but they purdy much settled down.
We pulled two more Kat Patrolz - nebber spotted da Bad Guy Kat agin.
We 'Left da Litez On.'

This Mornin Dad wuz a *nerbus wreck*!
Spent an hour wiffa Bi-Nokz *lookin* out da kichin winnow atta Nest.
Momma Burd *sittin* onna Nest - but she'z *lookin* all around.
Daddy Burd *hoppin* round da drive, *preenin* hiz feathurz.

Dad gotz da kamera reddy an we *slide* down da 'grassway'.
Mom WON'T get offa nest - jest gave us da *LOOK*!
Daddy Burd duz da Kar Eskort down to da street.
Dad parks at da street an walks back up.
Momma sez Kee! KEE! an * s l o w l y * hoppz up inna yard...

Dad takes a *peek*...
WW!
They LOOK "OK" - an OMG! #3 *popped* out ober nite!
ALL THREE huddled together - but not movin a bit!

Dad sed #3 wuz a lil bit "smaller" -
an dint have az much fuzzy down az #1 an #2...
Dad started *snappin* pix...

Mom & Dad Burd are doin sum soft kee! Kee! KEE! kallz,
so Dad hurries up - when ~
Nummer 2 Chick LEAPZ UP an makes a Mad Dash!

Dad sez he SAW ezaktly were he went - onlee bout a foot away -
but Dad kuld NOT *find* da lil bugger!
"LOST" inna driveway gravel an grass...

OMG!
We Lost Wunna da BABIEZ!
We drove around fur a while... Dad *frettin* an *wurryin*...

We Snuk back home - parked onna street...
Wunna da Burds *sittin* onna nest; but s/he jumped up soon az we stopped.
Boff Mom & Dad Burd walkin around inna drive near da far barricade.
Dad talkin reel soft-like az he approachez...
"Kee! Kee!"

Hmmmmmmmm...
Nummer 1 an 2 musta been reddy ta "travel" -
kuz they're BOTH GONE outta da Nest now!
Only lil Nummer 3 was gettin Sat On by a Parent!

Dad tell'd Mom & Dad to "Take GUD Care of da lil Kidz"
an we left em alone...

Prolly by da tyme we get back home, Nummer 3 will have built up his
strength enuff to *hopp off* wiff #1 an #2 to wherever
Mom an Dad Burd are gonna start Flyin Lessinz an Food Gathurin Klassez.

Be nice iffin we had a few Pet Talk Prayes fur
da Whole Burd Fambly's *Safety* an *Well-Bein*.

WE're gonna be doin a LOTTA *wurryin* bout da Darn Big KAT!


Hope we getz ta *see* em agin...
Be reel nice iffin Mom an Dad Burd would Fly em past da
dinin room winnows -
Be kinda NEET to see all Five of em Flyin In Formation!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Awww....I hope you get to see them again too. But I really hope wherever they're takin' the babies too is out of the driveway somewhere, and NOT in the new drive path!

What a story!

[Cinder & Smoke]

From Friday Morning ~ June 25, 2004 ~

The BURD Fambly *BABY PICTURES* >>>

ALL THREE Kidz in the "Nest" >
#1 on the Center-Left;
#2 on the Lower-Right;
lil #3 "On Top" - Upper-Right...
all three "facing" towards the lower-left



And then IT happened...
#2 *BOLTED*...
Leaped Up and made a Mad Dash OUT of the Nest...
Took off towards the upper-left of the first pix -
and now he's *somewhere* off to the right in this pix...
#1 and lil #3 weren't sure WHAT to do - so they
both just *stayed put* in the Nest >>>



An Hour Later...
We came back to check on the Kids...
#1 and #2 had already been *marched off* to their
new *Safe Howze* by Mom or Dad...
Mom Burd was *sittin* on lil #3, but hopped off as
we approached.
Here's Lil #3 - ALL ALONE! >>>



Mom went right back to lil #3 as soon as we left...
She'll sit on him today till he's strong enough
to *hopp along* and join the others in their new *Safe Howze* -
probably somewhere down near the pond.

In a week or two (God Willin) they should be finished with
Flight School and all be Flyin round da Ranch!



PS:
See the WHOLE Tail on the Burd Fambly Album >>>

Killdeer 2004 ~ da Burd Fambly Album

[AmberLee]

{{{hugs to Cinder and Smokey and Boots and Dad}}} for keeping us updated... Interesting, even as I strain to see the feather-kids in photos. Good for you protecting the baby from visitors.

Hang in there, it sounds like your dad will be nervous till the flight school's over!

[ChrisH]

Phred, thanks for the update. You had me on 'the edge of my seat' for a while there!

Will be saying a prayer that they all stay safe, and that you will get to see all of them flying together.

Thank you for helping and worrying about them.
Chris

[Cinder & Smoke]

Eben when ya KNOW where they are inna pix!

We made Dad go back an do sum *kroppin* an *en-hancin* -
THESE pix otta give ya at least a *chance* of pickin
da BURDz out frum da Rockz!

Here's ALL THREE huddled up inna pile -
And contrary to previous captions -
Nummer 3 is lookin off to da lower RIGHT!



And then there were TWO -
(aftur #2 *skipped* outta da Nest!) >>



"Southern Expozure" of just the TWO -
#1 Now on the Right; lil #3 Now on the Left;
both lookin away...
(Dad had switched sides onna driveway -
a bit *FRANTIK* - he wuz *searchin* for #2 that he scared off!) >>>



An here's Lil #3 - ALL ALONE aftr Mom an Dad *marched off*
the two "Older" Chicks to their new *Safe Howze*.
But Mom came Right Back as soon as we left! >>



Hope these "en-hanzed" Photos help the Folks who
were havin a Hard Tyme pickin out da BURDz frum da Rocks!

[Freckles]

Thanks lots, Phred. These old eyes just couldn't see those well hidden birdies.

[lynnestankard]

WOW!!

Many, many thanks to Cinder, Smoke and Phred - this has been such a wonderful saga of 'the burdz'.
It got a little tense - but what a wonderful outcome - I do hope the burd fambly do a fly past - that would be so cool!

Good work Phred - prayers going up from here and to be on the safe side - I lit a candle.

Lynne

[zippy-kat]

NOW are you a grandpa?


Cutie pics!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by zippy-kat

NOW are you a grandpa?

Dad = GRAMPs!??


Guess so, Zipp!

[Freckles]

Phred, has the family vacated the premises so you're able to drive on the road again?

[gini]

The little ones are Phred's GrandBirds!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by Freckles

Phred, has the family vacated the premises
so you're able to drive on the road again?

Burd Fambly UppyDate

Since da Burdz moved out of the Driveway Nest on June 25th...
We've "heard" them a few times on the east end of the BigHowze -
(near the pond) - but have only seen the Parents on the ground
once or twice.
Last weekend there were some Killdeer *flying* around the
pond and howze - but they fly so fast it's impossible to tell if
they are "Adulds" or "Kidz"!

We took down the "Burd SankShoeAirie" blockades and started
driving on the DRIVEway again this week;
and also mowed the grass for the Furst Tyme in several weeks!
NO "Aerial Attacks" where flown against the Lawn Maintenance Crew -
so we're hoping & praying the Burd Kidz have "graduated" from
Flight Skewel and are able to fend for themselves.

Dad's lookin for info onna I-net on how to "scare em away" frumma
DRIVEway next year!
We're thinkin a Big Hawk plastik burd,
sittin onna edge of da Drive next Spring,
*mite* convince Maw & Paw Burd to set up howzekeepin
inna slightly LESS bizzie area on da Ranch!

Here's Wishin *HAPPIE SKIES* to da Killdeer Burd Fambly!
.

[Randi]

So did you got da BIG Hawk up? Did any birdies come to hatch again at your property? You know some of them tend to go back to where they were born!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Yuppers, Maw & Paw Burd, the Killdeer parents, returned to their Driveway Condo
in the late spring of 2005 ... *before* I hired the Big Plastic Hawk.

Maw & Paw began attacking the Bus and the Mutts (poor Bowz ... he really did NOT understand
being *chased* by the two little Winged Warriors! I patrolled the drivway so many times
looking for where they'd established that year's Condo that they almost quit trying to
frighten me away ... I wondered if they'd actually set up housekeeping OFF the drive in the grass?

I drug out the Burd Protective Barriers ... two cinder blocks and two sawhorses.
I enlarged their *safe zone* to over half the length of the driveway, and swore off the first
mowing of the year - the Lawn Maintenance Crew of Odd Job & Woody would get an extra week off.
And the grass GREW! (Except where we were DRIVING on it whilst NOT using the driveway!)

Maw & Paw Burd suddenly turned *nasty* and became quite defensive of THEIR driveway ...
The Dawgs were no longer welcome to *swing by to check* on their way to the side or back yards;
The Bus was NOT welcome to *pass in the grass* ... 3 Dawgs and 1 Hoomin drove
past every day with all eyes *peering* out and scanning the drive.

THERE IT IS, DAD!!
Clipp & Clopp went beserk on the way out on the Grassway in the Bus one morning ...
poor Bowz almost got *smushed* in the stampeed to his window ... I couldn't see a thing!
Did "we" have another crop of "Wrapped Baby Burds" somewhere?

That night I did another recon of the driveway --- WITH aerial sorties being flown by
both Maw & Paw - the Three Guard Dawgs huddled together for safety on the front porch.
I found it ... 4 lil Burds wrapped in their tiny protective, speckled shells, waiting for
a hot Burd-Butt to come back and keep 'em warm to hatch-out day arrived.
Same address as last year, they just picked a slightly different apartment.
I decided I'd wait to take snappies on a sunny day.
I moved in the *safety zone* barriers and reclaimed a hundred feet of driveway.

All was well for a week or so - Burd #1 frozen on the "nest" as we motored on by, with
#2 flying protective cover and doing the Killdeer *crash landings* and broken wing/leg *dancing*.

Then suddenly one evening the Burds weren't "home" when we slid by on the way up the Grassway.
Uhhhh-Ohhhhh
I dashed down on foot to check ... NUTZ! NO Kids, NO shells, NO Maw & Paw.)
WAY too early for the Kids to have hatched and hopped off.

I saw Maw & Paw circle silently overhead a couple days later ...
But they never landed anywhere near the Condo.
We left the driveway barriers up for another week in tribute to the Missing Kids;
but fear they were egg-napped by a hungry predator.
God's Will be done.

--------------------------------
2006 Burd Tail

Maw & Paw Burd did return to the Driveway Condo Complex in late Spring, 2006 ~
but their stay was very short. The did fly cover over the driveway - but never got
worked up over the Dawg visits ... I walked the drive, front yard, pond yard -
and never got much *fuss* from either one of them.
I hope they found a safer apartment that year.

-----------------------------------------------
2007 and 2008 - No Burds, No Tails ...

We haven't seen nor heard May & Paw Burd these last two years ...
"Our Pair" should be GrandParents by now - I sure hope The Kids learned from their
Driveway Childhood and have picked better locations to raise the GrandBurds!

It's warming up - the grass is growing - and the Burd Condo has been *trashed* by
the early thaw and Late-season snow plowing ... we need some major overhauling in
the slag & gravel department before we're ready to host more *squatters*!

Maybe I SHOULD go get us a Big Plastic Hawk!

/s/ Burd Granpaw Phred