Jan,he's really cute and so little. I can't imagine having him riding around on the vacuum cleaner.What ever happened to him? I raised a baby robin once and when I whisteled,he would fly out of the woods and land on my head. That lasted for about a week and then he was gone. Birds are so sepcail..aren't they?

I haven't seen a parent on the nest in the last 2 or 3 days, but it may be that the parents are being extra careful not to reveal the location of the nest. Yesterday I was watching the tree from about 40-50 feet away, and I saw a mourning dove sitting at the top of my neighbor's roof not far from the nest. After about 10 minutes, I thought maybe the dove was waiting for me to go away. So I walked around the far side of my house, and from my back deck, I could see that same place on my neighbor's roof -- and no dove. I got down off the deck and started walking toward the nest on the near side, and I heard that flying-up sound that mourning doves make, from the direction of the nest. And this morning I saw a pair of mourning doves loitering in my driveway in front of the garage, about 35 feet from the nest. That's as close as I have been able to confirm that the parents are still visiting the nest. I would like better assurance, since mourning doves are commonly in the area to visit under my bird feeders. I cringe to think that they are abandoned, cold, hungry, and dehydrated. But I also hestitate to interfere. - Jim

What a great post/spring reminder! Yes, birds and gardens go hand in hand. Cudo to those who hand feed baby birds. Its work! I have parrots. When I was in college in AZ, I adopted a baby Severe Macaw that was still being fed formula. My dh traded off syringe feeding. He did ut while I was in class. We had to check the temperature of the formula so it didnt burn the crop. My Yellow Naped Amazon was a few yrs old when we got him, luckily we didnt have to syringe feed him. He had been abused from the previous owner. He had lived on a large perch his whole life and his feet had contractures. He is a great joy and is quite a character. He has his quirks and we respect that. Lordy, I should have never let him watch South Park (my oldest son's doing when an older teenager)! That's all I can say on here about his language but he is hysterical. He speaks fluent Spanish and English, and likes to imitate animal noises, especially pigs lol. He likes to call the cats..here kityy kitty, then bite them and laugh wickedly. Any new cat learns quickly who the boss is and becomes wise to his calling. He loves my youngest son the most, who has many learning disabilities and they have a very strong bond. We had a Conure, lovebirds, cockatiels, parakeets, and finches in the past.

I've put a "free" notice on our town's private facebook page. Recently I shared an over abundance of dill but kale and cabbages have gone to people with rabbits, chickens and goats.