"Nestlings in his cup" ~ The Sequel

We drove home to spend the day with my parents on Mother's Day as is our custom.  During last year's Mother's Day visit, the kids were thrilled to find a nest of baby birds in Pops' white mug.

Nestlings in his cup (May 2011)

I revised the lyrics to The Beverly Hillbillies theme song to explain how those nestlings ended up inside my dad's cup.  Read the full story here.

Cliff's Notes version:  Birds like to build nests on the eaves of my parents' front porch. These ledges aren't suitable nesting places because of all the bird poop and nest debris that falls down onto my parents' pristine porch and because snakes are known to slither up to those eaves when they start craving baby bird porridge for supper.  So last year, Dad placed cups and cans all along the eaves so there would not be any room left for bird nests.  Unfortunately, Mom turned one of those cups right side up, so a bird built a nest inside the cup.

Dad's battle to rid his porch of birds continued this year. So, to tell this year's story, I have added more verses to the "song" I "revised" last year.  With The Beverly Hillbillies theme song in your head (click here for a refresher), sing along with me.

Last Year's Lyrics:

Come and listen to a story about a man named Cy.

He had a big porch with eaves nice and high.

Then one day he was standing at the door

When down from the eaves droppings fell to the floor.

Poo that is, mama bird's and baby birds'.

Well the first thing you know, Cy gave those birds a stare,

Told them twice, "Move away from there!"

Said, "On my eaves isn't where you ought to be!"

"Go build your nest in that shady tree!"

Oak, that is.

Pretty leaves, hefty limbs.

Well when spring came again, Cy filled up the spots

Where birds like to nest with mugs, jugs and pots.

He thought they'll never nest here because of that cup

But Cy's dear wife turned it right side up!

Mama bird said, "Home, sweet, home, Take your shoes off!"

And baby birds came along now, ya hear?

Appended Lyrics:

Here's the rest of the story about a man named Cy.

Who had a big porch with eaves nice and high.

Last year he slyly tried to keep the birds away.

Despite his blockade, a bird built anyway.

A nest that is, filled with baby birds and worms.

Well, the first thing you know, a snake found that cup.

Saw those birdies and ate them all right up

"Never again," shouted Cy through his throttle!

Next spring we'll replace the cup with a bottle! 

 Rounded and upright

Unable to hold a nest.

 

Well, when spring came again, no nests did appear.

On the eaves as they had from year to year.

The battle was over. Cy sighed with relief.

Until he saw a nest atop the front door wreath.

Mama bird said, "Home, sweet, home, Take your shoes off!"

And baby birds came along now, ya hear?

So now, dear friends, should you decide to visit my parents, please use the back door.  Please approach quietly because babies are sleeping.

Genesis 1:19-21 (NASB)

¹⁹ There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
²⁰ Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” ²¹ God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.