Robins

The Robins came back. This will be the third year they attempt to have babies next to our garage. For two summers we've watched the momma robin sit on her eggs. Then we've watched as the momma and poppa work endlessly collecting food for their small offspring. The little birds get bigger and slowly start getting feathers instead of the furry stuff they have as chicks. Then, just as they start to develop a little more- black birds swoop in and eat them. The first year, the black birds got a clean gettaway. The second year, the robins attacked the blackbird, causing it to drop the chick in the neighbors yard. The neighbors dog came out to investigate and scared the blackbirds away. So the robins sat on the fence and in trees calling for their chick. Finally, I snuck in the yard. The dog hadn't bothered the chick, but it was dead.
So, as you can guess, we aren't excited for another dose of nature's harsh reality this summer.