Sayonara Swallows

They say that you don't really know someone until you live with them, and, recently, I have determined that to be absolute truth. I used to think that I liked birds.  That was until they took it on themselves to build their seasonal home on my front porch light.  At first I thought it was funny, but as time wore on, I found little humor in our living arrangement.

Who knew that swallows had such an aggressive nature?  As their eggs were preparing to hatch the parents' nastiness became increasingly more vicious.  I was forced to stop using my front door in June and come mid-July, I was no longer welcome anywhere in the front of my home.  I was reminded of this each time I went (out of the garage) to get the mail or even when I pulled into the garage.  These birds would dive bomb me from behind should I wander anywhere near the front door, the driveway or even inside of my open garage!  NOT ok.

These tiny yet ferocious creatures instilled in me a serious case of delusional paranoia.  I am very grateful that none of my neighbors heard me pleading for retreat from the swooping swallows through a one inch crack in my front door on more occasions than I care to admit.

I noticed a lesser bird presence in front of my house late last week and took advantage of the quietude to "check" on the eggs in the nest.  Because I don't own a compact mirror, I resourcefully decided to use my flip camera to sneak a peak into their home.  Palms sweaty and heart racing, I quickly reached over the nest, carefully positioning the camera to get a good view. Afterward, I ran back inside to watch the video playback to see if, indeed, the nest was empty.  Praise Jesus!  It was!

Yesterday, I gathered all of my supplies to bring down the mud nest.  I was concerned that they would sniff out my plan and attack me in the middle of my job.  Repeatedly checking over my shoulder, I brought down their bunker once and for all.  It was as if I had torn down my wall to freedom.  Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I am free at last!

I reached around the side of the house to blindly snap this picture and got lucky on the aim.

 Proof of the empty nest in case law enforcement finds the time to question me about my songbird nest removal.