The Hub called me on my cell phone at quarter of twelve and left a message.

"Guess what? Birda's back in the nest!" He said excitedly, "I just wanted to let you know."

Birda is the female robin who successfully raised 4 hatchlings in the nest she built in our carport. We did some research on robins and learned that she would probably return to that nest to hatch another clutch of eggs. But still, we made such pests of ourselves the first time, climbing up on the lawn chair, taking pictures, counting beaks and just generally assuring ourselves that everything seemed to be going okay ( Amazing! Wild birds are actually able to raise their own young without me bringing them a cassarole!) ...we were afraid she might not come back.

Actually, I think we saw one of the previous hatchlings on our neighbors yard the other day. The Hub and I were walking up the street and we saw a robin looking for food on the front yard to our left. Robins, of course, look very much alike, but the guy really did look familiar to me. There was something about the shape of his head.

"Hey! I think that might be one of Birda's kids." I said.

"Really?" The Hub asked, skeptically

"It's hard to tell, but, yeah, I really think so."

And just then the bird did the oddest thing. He stopped and cocked his head and looked at us - we were very near to him, much nearer than most wild birds let people get. Their vision is quite sharp I've heard. And he really seemed see us, and then went back to his foraging without any concern, as if he recognised us. As we passed him I could have reached down and touched him but, of course, I didn't.

"Hey, he remembers us! He buddy, how ya doin?" The Hub laughed. Of course, nobody looks less threatening than me and The Hub so maybe we just looked too fat to him to be serious predators .

Anyway, today The Hub said that he was worried because "Birda didn't look so good."

"What was wrong?"

"She seemed hot. She had her beak open a lot, almost like she was panting."

"Well, it was 90 degrees outside....and if YOU were trying to lay an egg in this heat don't you think you'd look a little worn out?"

"Good point. I guess I'll just make sure the bird bath has fresh water."

And I guess I'll take Winston out tomorrow and brush him. It'll cool him off and give Birda some material if she has to do any home improvements. I swear the last time she was here, every time the dog went under her nest she looked at him like he was a Home Depot on feet!