This is Miss Marple, so named because she is gray and snoopy...just like a favorite Agatha Christie sleuth, also gray and snoopy.
While relaxing after a hard night stalking mice she was startled awake by a most terrible screeching noise.
What could that noise be? I must investigate.
Is it coming from outside ? I will pop my head out doors and ask around.
Hey ducks, have you heard that screeching racket ? Quack, quack, quack! "..hmmph , those ducks are useless, don't know why Kathy keeps them around" says Miss Marple
"Hey , lamb, hear any screeching noises? " "Baaaaaaaaaaaaa" "Never mind, I'll look elsewhere.I don't hear them outdoors " says Miss Marple as she heads back indoors.
'Hey Belle, do you hear those noises?" (Belle whistles 'Jingle Bells' ) "You know, if you don't stop that annoying whistling I am going to make you a snack. Never mind, I think I hear it again."
"Nope, not in the bathroom"
"Ahhhh, the noise is coming from this bedroom, how can Joey cat sleep with all this racket?"
"Here's the source, those silly swallows have returned to nest in the bedroom chimney again. They are so loud I don't know how anyone can sleep in here. The parents swooping in sound like huge hovercrafts landing in the fireplace. Wonder if I can get in there? I could catch those little screechers and wouldn't they be tasty ?"
"Oh well, I'm worn out, I think I will take a cat nap and dream of little feathered snacks."
Birds tried to move into this bird house, but the wasps chased them away and set up housekeeping. We chased the wasps away and now this little home is vacant.
A pair of chickadees and a pair of swallows raised a family in this humble bird house. This home is now vacant.
Another pair of chickadees raised a family here this spring, bumblebees have taken up residence and now are buzzing busily in and out.
A small greenish-yellow pair of birds lived in this birdhouse overlooking the sheep pen. They flew away leaving a spider to help keep the pesky fly & mosquito population in check.
This bird apartment saw families of chickadees and sparrows come & go. It awaits new residents next spring.
An old birdhouse built by our son many years ago lost it's roof. I planted sedums in it. A chickadee checked it out many times this past spring but the lack of a roof must have been too much of a problem to actually move in, however a frog has taken up residence.
See? So where are the birds?
Here, inside our chimney! Since early spring right on into the summer there has been a continuous chirping and swooshing of wings in and out, in and out, all day, every day. We fall asleep to bird sounds magnified into our bedroom, and wake up to them. These swallows never seem to quit raising babies.
Sometimes we even have a fledgling fluttering around in the bedroom fireplace and we have to rescue it. The cat loves to sleep on our bed facing the fireplace.Since there is a glass screen in front of it, she can only dream her kitty dreams of catching the birds she hears .
Nope, no birds here either... "The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young." Psalm 84:3
