From SVBC member Judy Richardson.

It’s 6:30 pm;  the door bell rings and two neighborhood girls, age 6 and 7, are standing on my porch.

Their usual request is; ‘Can we pet Maggie?’, my pug dog. But today they hold out half a pale blue egg shell and ask ‘What kind of bird laid that?’ I wax poetic about how the mother bird doesn’t want anyone knowing where her nest is, so she carries the egg shells away. That’s why you found it on your lawn, I tell them.

I then tell them that I have a book where they might find out what type it is. I pull out my Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings book (do you have it??) It shows all the eggs life size and in color…as well as nests and babies. All three of us sat on the couch while they paged through the plates. There was much chatter about whose egg it was.

‘That one?’ ‘No, too white, big and spotty.’

And then, to the delight of my little scientists, it seemed to fit the Veery egg! There was another conversation about it’s being the right choice and off they ran to tell their mothers the good news!!

I have become not only the crazy granny that wears a Halloween costume with my pug dog, but also keeper of all the secrets about the birds in the neighborhood! The secret is indeed out!

Photo courtesy of eBird.