Willow and Timber-on Grable Road
It's so interesting how quick a human can develop a bond with an animal, especially when it's not a domesticated one. I learned that love can happen unexpectedly when I raised a squirrel (and eventually released with help of wildlife rehabber), and after watching "My Octopus Teacher" about a filmmakers unusual bond with an octopus. Beekeepers are even known to develop a special bond with bees.
We can fall in love with whatever we want.
Several weeks ago I noticed a couple birds were coming to the eave area outside our kitchen window. I learned they are House Finches. The female house finch was looking to nest up under the eave. House finches are monogamous. One male mates with one female. The two, apparently, met sometime during the winter months here in Marianna, and they have been together ever since.
The male, whom I will call "Timber", first attracted "Willow," the female, by performing a fancy flight in the air known as the "Butterfly flight", where he glides down slowly to a perch while singing loud and continuously in hopes of sparking a relationship.
My presence in the kitchen scares both of them away. But they come back and the female started a nest in the corner of the eave.
The two birds can often be seen standing on the edge of an overhang nearby, to first make sure the kitchen is clear. Once clear, they both carry feathers, grasses and other natural materials, including the Spanish moss I had set outside near a bird feeder for them, to the nest area. Only Willow builds the nest, however.
Willow is plain grayish-brown in color, while Timber has red around the face and upper breast but is mostly grayish-brown. If they could talk I imagine Willow would say "I'm not so sure this was a good place for a house." Timber would reply "I told you we should have gone to one of the pines. It's less busy there." So they can have the most peaceful and successful life, I limit my time in the kitchen. What a great excuse, huh?.
House Finches symbolize harmony in life. This makes me feel good being they are right outside the window. The male feeds his mate and guards her from other males. He is her protector even being smaller than many other local birds.
Update:
The 3 fledglings grew up and flew off. Willow and Timber are back, however, rebuilding for the next clutch. A female can have up to 6 clutches in a season. Often only 3 clutches survive.
2023
