Sunday, March 30, 2008

The Tale Of 2 Squirrels, A Mama Bird & Me ...

Yesterday wifey called me into the boys room and told me she heard some funny sounds coming from the ceiling (no, this is not a ghost story). I went in and heard this weird scratching kinda sounds coming from above the boys room ceiling. Wifey thinks they're rats but I begged to differ. I don't see how those little critters could get up there and besides there's basically no food in there for the to prosper. I was more inclined to believe they're squirrels. But we both weren't really sure and left it at that since it wasn't really causing any harm.

Then a little later, when wifey was hanging the laundry out back, she noticed twigs and leaves were dropping from the roof and we could hear chirping sounds coming from the top. That's when it hit us that there's probably a nest up there full of baby birds. Cool cos I was told that having a bird make a nest in your house brings you good luck. Not that I really believe any of that nonsense but who knows it just might be true. And thankfully, mama bird decided to build her nest in the ceiling this time instead of the tree in the lawn.

I say this time because this is not the first time I've had birds nesting in my place. There's been a few other occasions but mostly they'd make a nest in the trees in my lawn. At least this time it's in the ceiling and away from those pesky squirrels that roam the neighbourhood. Yes, we've got this two resident squirrels that I've officially named Chip and Dale and I've actually fought with both of them before trying to save the life of a young newborn baby bird. Before you all ask me just what in heavens name am I blabbering about now, let me explain from the beginning and yes, I'd advise you to go make yourself a nice mug of hot coffee or whatever beverage that suits your fancy, get some tidbits and plonk a nice soft cushion on your chair cos this might just turn out to be one of those long winded posts I'm well known for ... LOL! I'll try to keep it short, I promise :D

My house probably seems like a maternity hospital for birds cos they just love building their nests here to usher in their newborns and I'm actually happy that they do cos the sounds of those newly hatched baby birds chirping are a joy to behold, well, not unless I'm trying to nap that is, cos their incessant chirping can be a tad annoying during nap time ... hehehe ... A few years back, this mama bird decided to enlist herself in the Phillips Maternity Hospital for Birds (LOL) and build her nest in this potted tree I had in the porch. Since my living room fronts the porch, I could see mama bird flying in everyday with twigs and leaves to build the nest. It was an interesting thing to see, unfortunately I didn't own a digital camera back then or I would have cataloged the process.

So this went on until she made the nest and laid the eggs and soon the baby birds (urmm, is there any other specific name you call baby birds besides baby birds?) were born and since they were too young to get their own food and all that, mama bird went out looking for stuff for the lil fellows everyday. Now while I was curious to actually go close up and see the lil fellows, I didn't dare cos mama bird was a very protective mother. She used to sit there in the nest and stare at me sitting there in the living room and though I sensed that she knew I wouldn't harm her little babies, she was still protective all the same and kept a close eye on me whenever I was in the living room.

Now, one day I was watching TV with the little fellows chirping away and mama bird was out looking for food, I noticed that chip and dale who usually runs and plays around my mango tree grew a little interested in the chirping sounds coming from the porch. They sneakily but cautious started coming closer and I could tell those two mischievous fellows were up to no good. I normally get up and walk to the porch and they'd quickly high tail it out of there. This happened once when mama bird was on her way back and quickly flew in to protect her newborns and I think she knew I was also helping out with the guarding duties cos she never was afraid of me being near the nest since then.

Now a few days later, I was as usual watching TV in the living room with the babies chirping away in the background. I can't really remember what I was watching but I was so engrossed in it that I failed to notice Chip and Dale stealthily sneaking in like some commando squirrels towards the nest. Mama bird was out grocery shopping again I guess. Suddenly through the corner of my eye, I notice movement and that's when I turned my head and saw, Chip, or was it Dale jumping on the fence and trying to jump on the branch of the potted tree to grab one of the lil fellows in the nest. That was when I jumped out of my chair, ran to the porch and grabbed the nearest 'weapon' I could find which was a broom to try and stop the darn squirrel from grabbing the baby bird.

At the same instant I heard a shrieking cry from above and see mama bird swooping down joining in to defend her little babies. It was a sight to behold. There I was with my broom to trying to shoo those little rotters away and with mama bird as my partner trying to claw at them. We made quite a pair, me and mama bird with the nest behind us facing off against Chip and Dale! But those two little rascals were just to persistent and one of them managed to slip between us and grab a baby bird and high tailed it out of there. I couldn't do anything, not even try and hit the darn squirrel for fear of hitting the baby bird in it mouth as both chip and dale made a quick exit to god knows where with the poor squealing baby bird. Mama bird was more worried about her remain babies to also do anything much.

I was devastated, damn those two little four legged freaks! If I ever lay my eyes on them again, they're going to be roasted squirrels, that's for sure. I was sad for mama bird and I felt I failed in my duty as protector of the nest! Damn those two squirrels for making me look bad! I think mama bird was disappointed with me too cos soon after she took her little babies and left the nest to a more safer place. Oh well, I did try my best to fight them off. And since when did squirrels eat baby birds? Anyway, Chip and Dale are still roaming around mischievously and I've let them be, though if they were to get in the way of my car, I'd gladly run over the little rotters for stealing and probably feasting on that little new born baby bird!

That's why this time I'm glad that this new mama bird decided to make the nest in the ceiling of my house. It's nice and cozy and most of all away from the prying and evil eyes of those two rascals! And I think sometime soon I'm going to hear incessant chirping from the ceiling which would be a good indicator that there's a new batch of baby birds in this world :D I suppose the sounds of those chirping would make good background music as I search for some tips on acne treatment for my older boy seeing as how he's breaking out with them already. In the meantime, if any of you know of any birds who are going to lay some eggs, do tell them that the Phillips Maternity Hospital for Birds is now open ... hehehe ...

61 comments:

  1. yeah, not a ghost story, but the animal story.. LOL.. nice nice..

    not many people prefer to write animal story nowadays.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL Chip and Dale???? You're the real Donald Duck, man!!!!

    Here I have the same problem, but with rats... smart rats, I may add! there's a rat-epidemy in São Paulo. Some of them may fly and it scares me a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Faizal - LOL! NO la, I don't think I'm capable of writing 2 ghost stories in a row and not freak out!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cidao - Whoa, flying rats? Now that would freak me out. I hate rats! We do have our rat problems here in this country and I've seen rats the size of cats at certain food places which I have since stopped visiting!

    And yeah, I'm the real Donald Duck! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This story make me go Awwwwwwwwww.....so nice and sweet of you la....

    Do you know where i can shop for birds? I want to beli la...well thinking la..don't know if i would really buy one at the end...

    And by the way...eating Maggi while reading your post pun best juga tau...not only coffee,tea or milo. :D

    Have a nice day Nick!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nature boy eh? LOL!

    Anyway, when I read your opening paragraph, it made me wonder why I'd never blogged about the ghost in the ceiling. I've told the story to friends often enough. It'll be my next blog posting. Thanks buddy!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mama bird and you fighting Chip & Dale,... man, that would've been one heck of a great picture! :D

    You should write a novel one of these days... LOL

    ReplyDelete
  8. Emelda - LOL! Shop for birds? Not really sure la. There is this shop in PJ Old town that you could check out or maybe even in Brickfields, KL. I'm not sure about those Pet shops like Pets Wonderland though. I don't think they have birds.

    Maggi mee while reading my post, now that's a good idea ... LOL!

    Nice day to you too , Emelda.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hui Sen - What? You have ghosts living in your ceiling? Man, I would have shifted out in a flash ... LOL!

    Come on now, quit dilly dallying and get that post out already ... LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nessa - It was a great picture. Me, with my trusty old broom and mama bird flying all around. Made me feel like a knight on a quest with his trusty old Hawk or something ... LOL! Ok, ok, I should quit dreaming but it was a hell of a fight we had there! Unfortunately them pesky squirrels won!

    What novel? Being sarcastic here now, eh? LOL! Can't help not being long winded la ... hehehe ...

    ReplyDelete
  11. you fought with the squirrels? :-D
    anyway, interesting post!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nick.. at least yours are just birds. my FIL's house get visited by raccoons all the time and they sh*t everywhere..once they got into the bedroom and left a nice pile on their bed.. Yikes!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes you are a mighty long winded blogger. And no, I am not just kidding ya. Hahaha But kudos on being a hero to the birdies. For that and for your participation in Earth Hour, you get a GOLD star! Yay!! :P

    ReplyDelete
  14. Whoops, forgot to tell you. Check out the Hawaii Chair clip :P That is another beyond funny video!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Monica - Yeah, I fought with squirrels ... LOL! Welcome to Anything Goes by the way ...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lady Java - Raccoons? Where does your FIL live? And if any raccoons had left a pile of crap on my bed, they'd be raccoon pie for dinner ... LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Rozella - Yup, the king of long windedness, that's me alright ... LOL!

    Hero to the birdies? LOL! Well, those darn squirrels did managed to get one though!

    A GOLD star? Woohoo, I knew switching of the lights would be beneficial ... LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  18. They live in Ulu Klang.. Don't ask me why there are raccoons there.. they are just there and driving my MIL crazy!!Lolzz!

    Raccoon pie??!! Yikes!!..

    ReplyDelete
  19. Rozella - Another clip? Ok, I could use the laughs on an otherwise horrible Monday. I'll go check it out soon ...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lady Java - Ulu Klang, that explains the raccoons. That place is like a mini zoo la ... LOL!

    What? You've never eaten Raccoon pie? LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  21. LOL Nick..no wonder lahh.. all sorts of things can be seen at his garden.. from squirrels, to raccoons to even flamingo at one time..

    So what goes inside the raccoon pie beside the raccoon??? lolzzz

    ReplyDelete
  22. :S What to do. Survival of the fittest and all that. I bet you'd be feeling the same pity for Chip and Dale if you saw their babies being carried off by a giant bird. :S *sigh* Sad, sad.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Nick, you should consider becoming a writer or a novelist lah. *hee*

    If I ever see any birds making their nest on my room again, I'll send them to the Phillips Maternity Hospital.

    Oh, do you have a namecard, Dr. Nick? :P

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh wow, it sounds like an action-packed adventure up your ceiling.

    ReplyDelete
  25. LOL! I love how you tell the story. I actually wrote something similar about birds last night, but I was less gallant and less refine. Hehe! You are so nice to the birds. I feel so ashamed now...based on what I wrote in my blog. *look down onto toes*

    ReplyDelete
  26. aww.. you could also start a Phillips Birdguard (as opposed to bodyguard) for Hire service too :-)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'll send any birds your way! But I'll tell 'em to look out for Chip and Dale!

    ReplyDelete
  28. NP, you're it! Hahaha Need brain power sikit this one but I hope you like it! :P

    ReplyDelete
  29. YOU, the giant missed to help the little ones, how could you??? It was a sad moment for mama bird though *sigh*

    The sound of chirping is better than rock and roll, anyway, at least for me, lol!

    Oh, that's something new-PMHB. The birds must be feeling a lot more luckier in your hands, hehe..

    ReplyDelete
  30. The squirrels killed the baby bird!!!! Horrible little rodents! :o(

    ReplyDelete
  31. OMG your house got squirrels???The squirrels are cruel!!I will inform the birds around my compound and ask them to go NP maternity hospital.kekeke!

    ReplyDelete
  32. LOL what a great story, minus the poor baby bird part la! I'm picturing it like a cartoon scene with the birds and the squirrels and u right smack in the middle he he! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow! That was an intense story! I had no idea they were did things like that :( There are squirrels in my backyard all of the time....they don't seem so cute to me anymore :( Poor mama bird.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Haizum - yeah, true but those 2 rotten squirrels and me are not on speaking terms till today ... LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Ethel - LOL! Ok, ok I get the picture already. I should be writing shorter postings ... :D

    Yeah, you do that, I'll give them a discount even ... LOL!

    What? You didn't see my Ad on TV? LOL! Hmmm, Dr. Nick, now that sounds like a cool intelligent title ... hahaha ...

    ReplyDelete
  36. BT - It was BT, it was. I was fully pumped up with adrenalin ... LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Blusher - *blush* thanks, but most people just call me long winded ... hahaha ...

    Well, I couldn't just let Chip and Dale make off with all those baby birds now could I?

    I'll go check you bird story out, I'm sure it's equally good oh and by the way, welcome to my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Sting - A Phillips Birdguard service, now that is a good idea, maybe I'll even name in The BirdieGuards, Security for Birds! LOL! Thanks for the tip :D

    ReplyDelete
  39. The world according to me - Don't worry, I've got my eye out for Chip and Dale! See those birds my way :D

    ReplyDelete
  40. Rozella - Darn and just when I thought the week was looking up ... LOL! And need brain power lagi, adoi ... hehehe ... I'll go check it out in a bit. Thanks anyway :D

    ReplyDelete
  41. Marlene - Yeah, I failed to protect all of them :( I'm sure cos mama bird upped and left the very next day!

    LOL! PMHB, I like the sound of that. Unfortunately this time I can't see the new family of birds cos they're in the ceiling ...

    ReplyDelete
  42. Tammy - Yeah, those horrible little critters, They're still on my wanted list. Unfortunately, those 2 rascals are pretty good at evading me ...

    ReplyDelete
  43. Sweetiepie - Well, only two resident neighbourhood squirrels that is. Can't blame them really cos like Haizum said above, survival of the fittest. But I still feel pissed anyway.

    Yeah, you send all those bird over here. I've got loads of room urrmmm I mean trees for them ... hehehe ...

    ReplyDelete
  44. Marzie - LOL! It really did look like a cartoon scene from Tom & Jerry la ... But unfortunately those rotten squirrels won. I'm not finished with those 2 yet. You just wait till I get my hands on them ... LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Sandy - Neither did I. I thought squirrels ate nuts and those sort of things, not baby birds!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hmm, you having "tenants" staying in your house?? They paying rental or not? ;p

    ReplyDelete
  47. Rose - LOL! No la, I'm a nice landlord, they can stay for free one la ... :D

    ReplyDelete
  48. I was tempted to make my maggi and get my coffee before reading your post, but then I said.. "Ah! Just read la.." Half way through I was like, "Ok, maybe I'll just get that coffee" LOL

    Anyways, I enjoyed reading this post! I wonder if the neighbors saw you going at it with the broom! LOL! They might think you've lost your mind as the neighbors might not be able to see the squirrels and the birds from afar.. haha..

    Next time I hope you dont hafta climb up to your ceiling to defend the birds! I'd wanna see that! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Syura - LOL! I warned you guys to get comfortable now didn't I?

    I don't know la, I don't think anyone was out at that time so I guess no one saw me with the broom, I would have looked silly to them ... LOL!

    Urrmm, those birds in the ceiling will just have to fend for themselves cos I'm scared of heights ... LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  50. aww....thats so sweet for the momma bird.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I am so glad I didn't miss this post (I've been a bad blog reader). I think this is the best post you've ever written. I was imagining the whole scene with you and momma bird fighting side by side, good vs evil. Great story, I really enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Gypsy - LOL! It looked like a scene from a Tom & Jerry movie!

    And there is now such thing as a bad blog reader! Hope all is well, a little too early I know but have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Hey Tom...I mean Buddy!! You should have headed up to th eceiling and caught the little buggers red handed!! Maybe might have saved the little birdie!! But tht is nature at work...the weak and defenseless get overrun by the hungry...just never knew there were carnivorous squirells around! Gotta watch that lot that sneak around my place now! hehe

    Great story BTW! :)

    ReplyDelete
  54. Adrian - LOL! Buddy you can always call me Tom cos you're the other half my my Tom And Jerry routine ... hahaha ...

    Actually I never knew that too la ... I always thought squirrels ate nuts only!

    Hey, I thought you had Musang Joe to worry about, now you've got squirrels too? Darn, they're everywhere aren't they? LOL!

    Gotta make a BBQ session one of these days soon, haven't had one for this year yet, have we?

    ReplyDelete
  55. Woww... I now knight thee as SAVIOUR OF BABY BIRDS.. okay so one got away. But better one than two! It's okay Nick. Mama bird would know u did your best!

    I would have been traumatised for days!! Those scamps!! There are a couple of squirrels around my neighbourhood too but they hang out mostly on the electric posts. I recently saw one that got FRIED! Yup, it got electrocuted. Tsk tsk tsk..

    As for my catching-up-on-Nick's-posts meal, I have my mee goreng and bottle of water here! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Great story! I didn't know that squirrels ate baby birds or meat until about two weeks ago when my pastor shared in his sermon how he watched a squirrel outwit a mother bird and snatch a baby from the nest and head off to the woods. Now i know all about the food chain and animals eat others and all that, but there's something a little disconcerting about a squirrel eating a baby bird!

    ReplyDelete
  57. The same thing happened in my yard today. I went out to check the nest. All four Finch babies were resting peacefully. A bit later the nest was empty! I didn't know if they'd come back to the nest so every so often I'd check. I came out with both Finch parents up in arms and then I saw the vermin climbing down the tree. He stopped in his tracks and I saw a little Finch bottom coming out of his mouth. I was shocked! I will now let my dog out on any squirrel I see.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Shemah - Wow, I only just realized I got comments here from you ... LOL!

    Saviour of baby birds ... LOL! I like that title :D Well, those scamps are still around till this very day have a free reign of the neighbourhood.

    I'm sure the mee goreng and bottle of water would come in handy ... LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Miltizme - I didn't know that either but after witnessing it for myself, I was shocked though ...

    ReplyDelete
  60. Anonymous - LOL! Squirrels are getting to be a pest these days. I don't know since when they moved on from eating nuts to baby birds though.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for leaving a comment on ANYTHING GOES!