The Tribune | Weekend | 15
Friday, June 18, 2021
animals
The story of Mummy Red Legs - the red-legged thrush By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters The first few days: I noticed this very busy and engaging bird fly in and out of the garage countless times. So often that I began to wonder what she was up to. Every time I would drive into the garage she would fly out. A few days later: I noticed that she would have some twigs or fluff with her. I realised that she was building a nest. Looking up I saw that she had chosen a very secure spot about 10 feet above on the top of a cupboard against the wall, totally safe and secure. As time goes by: I found out that my enchanting and busy Mama is a red-legged thrush, indigenous to many islands in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. It is at this point that I assumed that the eggs have been laid because she is frequently sitting in her nest perched up high and watching me with her red ringed eye. Every morning she would fly out for a short spell, probably to fetch some breakfast. Sitting on those eggs is tiring work. I wonder what she thinks about. I would have loved to see how many eggs she had in her nest but I didn’t want to upset her. More days go by: I was in the garage and I suddenly heard the distance chirping of very tiny birds. A big smile breaks out over my face and I realised that ‘Mummy Red Legs’ has had her babies crack out of their eggs. Their sounds ere low and a little muffled as she flies back and forth like a busy housewife buying groceries at the market. Her role of provider had her on high alert! Finally: Three little heads poking up over the nest. They are chirping their little heads off lustily and loudly; good thing that they are in a safe spot on the highest shelf in my garage because they are alerting the neighbourhood that easy pray is here. Mummy Red Legs
pops back and forth feeding their demanding little (or should I say big in comparison with their tiny bodies) mouths. She works tirelessly. No father in sight, this is most definitely a single family and a deadbeat Dad! There is no effort to exit the nest yet but their little voices get stronger by the day. A while ago: They are standing up in their nest yelling as loudly as possible for their poor over-worked Mama. I see her out pecking at the soil to find some delicious bug or worm to serve up for her demanding babies; She swoops down on the unsuspecting candidate
for dinner and wham the deed is done. She gathers her self and flies back with tremendous purpose to perch on the side of her nest to feed her unruly bunch of demanding babies. Not long after: You would see them perched on the side of their nest on the shelf where she had so carefully placed her family home, they were delightful balls of soft downy feathers, squawking impatiently for their mother’s attention It’s a good thing she only had three or she would have been exhausted trying to keep up with all their demands. Back and forth she
pet of the week
would fly, seemingly tirelessly! One morning I had to go out early and I saw the old adage “the early bird get the worm “ in action. There she was standing patiently in the dew-wet grass, waiting to catch breakfast for her bunch, a quick stab at the ground and she lifted her prey high into the air triumphantly with two flaps of her strong wings. When she landed on her nest the ruckus would have been silenced as I drove away. As the days went by I would see and her the babies learning their flying skills, landing and taking off… crashing awkwardly on the lawn whilst the concerned mother hopped from branch to branch with words of encouragement, The property was a safe haven for them, no cats with my dogs here, no rates or vermin, just four dogs who don’t care and a bunch of humans who do. Flying lessons didn’t last long before they mastered the technique and Mummy Red Legs could sit in a tree, basking in the rest of the summer sun chirping away. Now: They have gone, the babies have flown away, no more ruckus in the garage. I think Mummy Red Legs is still here, there is a bird just like her who comes to feed from the bread put out every morning for them. She doesn’t appear to have a mate. Winging it on her own, she hops around surrounded by the smaller sparrows and the big pigeons, they all feed together in harmony. The little birds are a bit bossy. Maybe Mummy Red Legs enjoys her freedom as a single woman again.
Don’t dodge this little one
Eager? You bet! To be yours! Right... now call the BHS at 3235138 for more information. See you soon!”
By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY
• The BHS Thrift Shop is open. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11am to 3pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm. We sell gently used items to raise funds for the shelter. If you’d like to donate, we’d be grateful to accept your donation. If the shop is closed, please leave them in the main shelter. Thank you!
“Don’t overlook me! I’m very chatty. Only one year old, we think. Do be sure to come into the Bahamas Humane Society to meet me! Get ready to fall in love.
PHOTO/Linda Gill-Aranha
