I think the odds are stacked against this baby bird, but maybe not. His mom picked a poor location for the nest. It’s in our garage, in the center of a tool belt hanging on the wall. I think it just hatched today, maybe in the last couple of hours. Mom flew off when I went into the garage, and that’s how I found the nest.

Every year birds try and build nests in the garage. Most years, I get them out before they start building. Somehow, I missed this one. I’m not against birds. It’s just not healthy for them to build a nest in the garage. If the door is down, they are either trapped in the garage and can’t get out, or trapped outside and can’t get in. They also don’t understand a partially closed door. They keep looking to fly out at the top, not knowing there’s an exit just two or three feet lower. They circle, and circle, and circle, never seeing the exit below.

We could leave the door open all of the time, although this year there is another challenge. There is a bear in the area, who already tried to haul off our trash once. Our dog Carmen alerted, and the bear ran off, leaving the trash bag in the drive. From past experience, we know it will return. Because of this, I keep the garage door closed at night.

Our barn cats, Stan and Ollie, don’t help the situation. Stan has discovered the bird nest. He hangs out at the garage these days, often on the table below the nest. He can’t climb to the nest, but I know in the future when the bird starts to fly, Stan may well be there waiting for a mistake. Several years ago, we came home to find our old dog, Holly, insanely jumping up and down in the garage. When we walked into the garage, and saw the three dead baby birds on the floor and one in Holly’s mouth, we realized what had happened. Another nest built in the wrong location.

I hope this little bird makes it. The odds seem stacked against it.