I Balestrucci (House Martins)

The House Martins are back. What a lovely sign of spring.  And what a loud and cheerful song they sing.  Davvero mi aprono il cuore!

They’ve returned to their old nests under the eaves. Now, for several weeks to come, there’ll be a lot of ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ whilst they prepare a home for this year’s young by repairing any damage from winter’s wind and rain.

Two years ago, I found one little critter on the ground.  He was still alive.  I couldn’t leave him there so I brought him in and fed him with insects and some bread and water mix.

I’m calling him a ‘him’ because we named him ‘Martin’.  What else?  He could have been a ‘Martina’, but I couldn’t tell the difference in any case.

He only survived 5 days.  I sort of knew his chances were slim and that I shouldn’t interfere with nature, but what is it with us humans that we try to?  He must have been the weakling and been pushed out of the nest by his stronger and greedier brothers and sisters.  Yes, it’s Mother Nature at work and she does a good job, but she does seem unfair at times.

It is quite a drop from the eaves to the ground for such fragile creatures and the few who are pushed out are usually already dead.

If I ever found one alive again?  …Well, I’d have to try again, of course.

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