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A weaver bird has begun making a nest on a thin branch of hibiscus that is unfortunately directly over the swimming pool. Two years ago the male bird built a nest on a palm frond and we watched in fascination as he weaved his intricate home for his family. When we heard the baby birds cheeping we waited expectantly for them to emerge. The timing couldn't have been worse as the first one appeared while I was busy cooking the evening meal. It ventured out and then fell directly into the swimming pool. I rushed out to fish it out of the water and brought it inside to dry it and keep it warm, at the same time fending off three very interested cats and two fascinated dogs. When the fledgling was suitably dry I placed it as close as I could to the nest and it began hopping about as its mother flapped worriedly in the tree above. It then hopped right back into the pool again. Rushing out, I rescued it once more and herded the cats and dogs back inside and tried to keep an eye on the stove. Whilst this was going on, a second bird flew the nest and also ended up in the water. Chaos reigned as a third baby bird dropped into the pool. I had birds wrapped in towels, burning food, dogs and cats trying to get out of the door, and mother and father birds chirping their distress.
I attempted to make a barrier round the pool to stop the babies hopping into the water, but they didn't get the message and hopped right over the barrier and into the pool. It was now beginning to get dark. After one last try I had to leave the family to fend for themselves. Alas, in the morning there were three pitiful corpses in the pool.
I immediately cut down all the palm fronds to prevent a re-occurrence. But Mr Weaver Bird has now chosen the hibicus for his new home. Do I cut down the nest after all his hard work before Mrs Weaver bird lays her eggs, or hope that she rejects it (as the females are prone to do)? Or perhaps I should construct a makeshift net to catch any falling fledglings?
This could be a case for Leon Chameleon PI.
I attempted to make a barrier round the pool to stop the babies hopping into the water, but they didn't get the message and hopped right over the barrier and into the pool. It was now beginning to get dark. After one last try I had to leave the family to fend for themselves. Alas, in the morning there were three pitiful corpses in the pool.
I immediately cut down all the palm fronds to prevent a re-occurrence. But Mr Weaver Bird has now chosen the hibicus for his new home. Do I cut down the nest after all his hard work before Mrs Weaver bird lays her eggs, or hope that she rejects it (as the females are prone to do)? Or perhaps I should construct a makeshift net to catch any falling fledglings?
This could be a case for Leon Chameleon PI.