The Rainy Season, Flowers and Baby Birds

It is July in Colima, and the rainy season is finally here – a few weeks late, as it usually begins by mid-June. We do have flowers all year round, but as the dry season comes to an end, everything is dry, parched and brown. When the rains begin, everything turns fresh and green. The air is fresh and sweet. And baby birds appear.

My land has drainage pipes throughout, leading to outside a brick wall where water can drain onto the street. This prevents flooding. One day, I was told that there were baby birds in a nest inside one of the pipes. Sure enough, there were baby golondrinas inside the pipe.

The baby golondrinas inside the drainage pipe

The drainage pipe exit

Two of the babies

As the rains came, I would check on them to make sure they were ok. And they were. But it seems as if they have grown sufficiently and flown away, because their nest has been abandoned. This was the first I had ever heard of birds nesting inside a pipe, much less a drainage pipe.

Chachalaca nest

High up in a tree next to my property is a chachalaca nest. Last week, two babies fell from the nest. One looked very weak, but the other was very strong, flapping its wings vigorously. I had no idea what to do with them, so initially, I put them in a cardboard box. The weak one just sat there, but its sibling kept flapping its wings and flying out of the box. The parents were flying and running around and squawking frantically, so finally I decided to let them take care of the babies.

Parent and two babies

That turned out to be a good decision, as the parents are fierce protectors. I see two or three adults daily walking with the little ones. The little ones, when not walking with the adults, hide among a cluster of dense foliage.

The babies’ hiding place

The parents are almost always nearby, either on the ground or on the wall. One time I heard them squawking and saw one of my cats running away as fast as she could, which gave me more confidence that the parents can definitely protect their young.

Adults standing guard

My kitties, Peach and Ginger, in the foreground and a neighbor’s cat, Raúl, who likes to hang out with my girls. They’re smart enough not to bother the cane toads and not to tangle with Momma Bird.

I do not have my camera at the ready 24/7, so the photos I managed to take do not show what I actually witness as much as I would like – but they will have to do.

Meanwhile, I am also posting photos of some of the flowers on my property. Some were already here when I arrived almost 7 years ago, and many I planted over time. Central Western Mexico is quite different from New York when considering what to plant, so it took a great deal of experimenting with many plants dying before I came up with plants that would actually thrive.

I have many types of flowering plants that give off a nice perfume, which I really love. After living in a basement apartment and working nights for many years, I am now living in my own Garden of Paradise. So, until next time, stay safe, stay well, and discover all the little things that can bring you joy………..

Rosemary flowers

Belén (Bethlehem)

Jasmine, which has a beautiful perfume