Family #3

In the crabapple tree outside my kitchen window is a nest, which has been home to three families of birds this spring and summer.  The first  family . . . bluejays; the second and third families . . . mourning doves. 

We got to see this third family (two babies) for the first time about six days ago.  It's difficult to get a good picture for two reasons . . . first, because there is a tiny branch that hangs in front of the nest.  Would have trimmed that branch off had we known this nest would be reused twice after the original occupants!  Second, I take the screen off my kitchen window, open it, and while kneeling on my sink edge reach out as far as I dare to get a picture.  My kitchen window is 15 feet or so off the ground.

Will be keeping a close eye on the babies' departure from their nest to keep them from being a snack for a certain fat cat, Sir Oliver.  Granted, we cannot protect them forever from harm or from other cats in the neighborhood . . . but we can protect them from our cat as much as is humanly possible.