At the edge of our land at Casa Debbio we have some very old stone walls. Alfredo, the magician who has been clearing brambles and making our terraces look beautiful, disturbed a tiny nest in one of the walls.
He carefully returned it to a crevice and concealed it as well as he could. We hope the mother bird finds her babies.
The walls could have been here for hundreds of years.
If you look closely you might be able to see where the nest is.
There are at least 5 chicks in the nest.
I’ll be keeping watch for the mother to come back to feed them.
What a heartwarming story. I am gutted even if I step on a snail, and they are not exactly friendly at the moment!
By: June Finnigan on May 3, 2013
at 10:39 am
I hope the birds survive. I haven’t spotted the mother yet.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 3, 2013
at 10:47 am
So do I!
By: Francis on May 3, 2013
at 10:51 am
O Dio, do google for help with fledgling birds – just in case!
By: June Finnigan on May 3, 2013
at 11:09 am
I think they are a but small to help if she doesn’t come back.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 3, 2013
at 11:42 am
Oh my God…they are precious and so so so so so so so tiny. I hope they make it. These things break my heart. I’ve struggled many summers with baby barn swallows that get pushed out of the nest by their mother. That’s nature doing what she feels she must, and even that I can’t handle very well. Please let us know how the drama unfolds.
By: The Daily Cure on May 3, 2013
at 12:04 pm
I went back later this afternoon and the birds had gone. I’m hoping their mother came and helped them fly away.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 3, 2013
at 7:01 pm
Oh dear Debra, how lovely… Thank you, have a nice Italy weekend, 🙂 love, nia
By: niasunset on May 3, 2013
at 12:15 pm
They were cute little things. I hope they are OK.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 3, 2013
at 7:02 pm
We have two nests hiding behind a big beam in our loggiato. The birds come every year and they fix the nests which are architectural masterpieces. Those beams go back to the 17th Century, so I think that several generations of birds have been seasonal tenants of the premises. Usually, they are a bit shy when we arrive; however, as I always leave treats for them they become quite friendly. Last year, the mother proudly showed me a large worm she got for her babies… you may try digging out worms and feeding the babies…
By: mulino dominillo on May 3, 2013
at 12:19 pm
I did think of worms, but when I went back to look for them they were gone. I hope they flew away.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 3, 2013
at 7:09 pm
Aww, they are so tiny! Hoping she will come back and find them Debra. Are they Sparrow Hawks?
By: Madhu on May 3, 2013
at 1:36 pm
I don’t know what type of bird they are. I think we have woodpeckers nearby. I can hear something that sounds like Woody Woodpecker.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 3, 2013
at 7:11 pm
What a lovely little story. I hope too they will survive. Mother will surely find them, nature helps and the babies make enough noise. Love your wall.
By: anyone4curryandotherthings on May 3, 2013
at 1:52 pm
It is a wonderful old wall. Unfortunately it is crumbling in parts.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 3, 2013
at 7:12 pm
Debra, surely well worth preserving. What you need is a nice OLD traditional chap who still takes pride in restoring such beauty. Wish you luck and I hope the birds will be ok.
By: anyone4curryandotherthings on May 4, 2013
at 6:52 am
We will certainly look into preserving it. There is bound to be someone in the village who knows about these walls. I imagine the village would like them to stay as well.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 4, 2013
at 11:57 am
Yes I am sure the mother bird came back and assisted them to another overgrown secret place
By: dianne Cant on May 3, 2013
at 10:10 pm
I hope so. I will check the nest again today in case they were just out for a flying lesson yesterday.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 4, 2013
at 4:53 am
House of tiny miracles yours!
By: janinevasta on May 4, 2013
at 9:36 pm
Now that spring is up and running there are constant delights at Casa Debbio.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 7, 2013
at 6:31 pm
Cheers to the unexpected find!
By: aFrankAngle on May 6, 2013
at 11:47 am
So pleased to hear that the ‘birds have flown their nest’. My husband builds beautiful stone walls both dry and otherwise, in the traditional way. It is not what he does for a living, however, he might be persuaded with a little incentive!
By: June Finnigan on May 6, 2013
at 12:36 pm
We probably won’t get to the old walls this year as we have so many other things to finish, but I would like to keep them. Do you live nearby?
By: Debra Kolkka on May 7, 2013
at 6:32 pm
Ciao Debra, We live near Certaldo.
june.finnigan@virgin.net
By: June Finnigan on May 8, 2013
at 7:53 am
I can hear cuckoos nearby and I swear I can hear a woodpecker occasionally.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 7, 2013
at 6:33 pm
Ohh how lovely they are… so cute..
By: Fragolina on May 22, 2013
at 7:19 am