NESTING SEASON

PREE: Hey Mom! Hey Dad! I found a nesting bird!

MOM: Wow! They are early this year.

DAD: Usually the large birds like eagles start first. They start pairing up in late fall and the squirrels start at the first of the year. The weird thing is that the tiny hummingbirds are the first of the small birds to nest.

PREE: That's amazing! We're still having frosts. How do the young ones survive?

MOM: It's tough if you have no feathers or fur. The parents have to keep them warm just like the eggs. Reptiles hold off until later and may bury the eggs in a mound of dirt. The sun keeps them warm.

PREE: I guess the opossums are lucky in those pouches.

DAD: They are lucky as long as they are in the pouch, but when they get bigger, they have to hang on to Mom's fur. Once they fall off, they are on their own.

PREE: Maybe that's why they have such big litters.

MOM: Probably so. They might even have more, but only have 13 teats so the 14th baby is out of luck.

PREE: What's with the number 13 in nature? Don't turtles have 13 scales on top of their shells?

DAD: I guess it's an efficient design since it keeps on turning up.

PREE: Do any animals have babies all year?

MOM: The Black-tailed hare does. Maybe that's why the babies are born with all their fur and their eyes and ears open.

PREE: How come people trim their trees during nesting season? It seems like that would do in a lot of nests.

DAD: I wonder that too. It's better for the trees, the squirrels and the birds to cut when trees are dormant. On the other hand, people love to get outdoors and work in the garden when things green up. They just need to be very careful and may pay the price if their trees get infections.

PREE: What about the ground nesting species?

MOM: People should always walk through the area they are going to mow to see if there are nesting animals. They will flush if you get too close. Then you can mark the area and mow it later.

PREE: What about the killdeer?

DAD: They are always a problem because they like to nest in driveways or rocky places. We're not supposed to disturb nests, but you can barricade them until the young hatch or you can chase them away before they lay their eggs.

PREE: What happens to people who disturb nests?

MOM: They may go to jail or pay a fine or both.

PREE: It's probably a bad idea to show my friends the nest I found huh?

DAD: If it's someone you really trust, maybe you could show one person, but don't get too close.

PREE: I wouldn't want to disturb that beautiful mother bird. Birds have enough trouble surviving. They don't need me showing off.

MOM: Alright Pree! You sound like you are 10 years old going on 80. I’m impressed.