What’s your theory?
I never sit still for long in the garden, as there is always something to do. When I do, however, I’m often rewarded. Such was the case with this bird.
‘Chillin on a branch
I heard ‘her’ singing from a tree nearby, before she flew into our yard where she sat preening on the low branch of a tree.
Preening
A second bird sat on the telephone wires, and chirped what seemed like a response. Chirp-chirp. Sing-song.
Secret code?
I took several pics of the bird resting in the Pittosporum, before she flew away. She soon returned, this time perched in the branches of a fruit tree.
Trying out the fruit tree
My husband was making repairs to the irrigation system (he doesn’t sit still for long either) so we gave up our perch on the garden swing and got to work.
The bird tracked my movements, then hopped along the fence toward the orange tree, and finally on to the neighboring fence. She continued the chatter with an ever-watchful eye.
It seems late in the year for nesting, so I’m not sure what the charade was about. She definitely wanted to keep her eye on us, and with all the cats in the garden, I wanted to keep my eye safely on her as well.
Mighty Mouse lounging under the orange tree
What do you think? Was she protecting a nest nearby? Was she warning the cats to keep their distance? Was there some diabolical ruse going on with the bird on the wire and our friend on the fence? You know…’you distract them while I raid the worm bin.’ or ‘I dropped a seed and now I want to retrieve it.’
What’s your theory? I would love to hear what you think.
Gardening Nirvana 
I tend to always assume watchful birds are guarding a nest…but maybe they are just curious about us and chatting with each other (“what are they up to now?”) as we chat about them! That may be a fanciful interpretation, but I enjoy such fancies! Lovely photos of the birds.
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Thanks, Julia! I like that idea as well. And like you, I enjoy a fanciful interpretation, hence my love for fairy gardening. Thanks for stopping by.
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You are really good with that camera. Love the pictures of birds and cats watching each other. Maybe they are just enjoying watching you and your husband working and wondering if you are nesting? 🙂
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Awww…I like that theory, Marlene! That made me smile.
Thanks for the lovely compliment. I love looking at nature through the lens of a camera. It really draws your focus inward to some amazing things.
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Lovely photos Alys! In my country we have fantails, little yellow birds with distinctive tails [yes, like fans] These little guys are friendly and inquisitive and often hover around, keeping an eye on us. In mythology they are the messengers of the gods. So maybe your little fellows are like our fantails. Nice!!
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Thank you, Pauline! Birds are so beautiful. I’m tremendously flattered whenever they come close.
I’m going to go look up your little yellow fantails. They sound charming and sweet. How nice for all of you.
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Oh my goodness, they are so cute!
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4145/5008707364_6f09c159a8_z.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/avianphotos/5008707364/&h=610&w=640&sz=155&tbnid=SMNRPND5v1J3VM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=94&zoom=1&usg=__7kq7PZqIbEjpUkh7loWKFhSK3KI=&docid=vgWaV9mIvwdD3M&sa=X&ei=AEYMUoiWGoOGyQGfvoGgDw&ved=0CEkQ9QEwAw&dur=3247
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That sounds so pleasant, sitting on your swing listening to the little birds sing and chirp. I’m always enjoying the song birds in the early morning when I first wake up and the window’s open. By mid-afternoon, they’ve moved on and the Magpies and Crows come around. Their harsh cawing isn’t as sweet so I close the windows. Which is ok because, typically by then it’s too warm for open windows. I especially liked your photo of your little friend preening, so cute. Maybe they’re warning other feathered friends out of view about the kitties. Like what squirrels do when they’re ‘barking’. I think they’re sending out a warning alarm. If so, their daily chore is very charming,
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I’ll have to Google a Magpie video to understand the full effect. We have crows so I can relate to that cacophony. They’re here in the morning and evening but nothing rivals mating season in May. It goes on and on and on!
You may be on to something: the importance of warning the others. I was told off by a squirrel this very morning. Nothing subtle there!
Thank you, Boomdee!
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I hope your cat doesn’t eat more than half of the birds like mine does!!
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😦 It’s hard when you love all animals to see nature at work. The three cats we currently have are all north of 10 with little interest in much of anything but sleep. The neighbor’s cat, young, male and feisty, however, is always interested. We do all we can to discourage him.
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