Attempted murder at Henrys Lake

Trespassing and a small loving led to an attempted execution adjacent Henrys Lake past Tuesday.

While driving astir Henrys Lake, trying to get immoderate pictures of immoderate upland bluebirds astatine their nests, I noticed a brace of character swallows (Sam and Sally) making retired connected a obstruction post. They were conscionable 2 posts from an progressive bluebird nest and nan antheral bluebird (Bob) would pursuit them distant each clip he came by. The female bluebird (Betty) would participate nan nest pinch immoderate building material, deposit it, activity connected nan nest and past time off for immoderate more.

A brace of upland bluebirds (Bob and Betty) fixing up their nest earlier nan attempted murder.| Courtesy Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

The brace of bluebirds vanished for astir 5 minutes erstwhile Sally decided to cheque retired nan nest box. I was astounded erstwhile she entered nan nest conscionable earlier Betty returned. Betty went to driblet disconnected immoderate building worldly and discovered Sally successful her location and she was upset.

Sally trespassing into nan bluebird nest. | Courtesy Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

Betty had a fit, flying astir nan nest box, yelling for Bob to take sides their home. Like astir men, he showed up a small later than his important different would person liked. When he landed astatine nan entranceway of home, he saw Sally successful nan nest and they began fighting done nan opening, hardly ample capable for them to compression through.

Bob discovers Sally successful nan nest and they statesman fighting done nan mini opening. | Courtesy Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

After astir 3 minutes of fighting, Bob yet sewage Sally by her cervix and pulled her retired done nan hole. She looked for illustration she had been dragged done a knothole, backwards. They fell into nan gangly writer wherever they continued to fight. Finally, Sally was capable to escape, and nan attempted execution was averted. As Bob flew to a obstruction station to straighten his ruffled feathers, Sam and 3 of his friends showed up and attacked Bob.

Bob pulls Sally retired of nan nest by her neck. | Courtesy Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

After 4 clone attacks, Sam yet knocked Bob disconnected nan post. They fell into nan gangly writer fighting and yelling astatine each other, utilizing vertebrate words that I cannot repeat. After Sam escaped and flew disconnected pinch his friends, Bob flew to nan nest container and sat connected apical of it, straightening his feathers. Betty had been witnessing nan fights from different station and came to Bob to console him.

Bob is attacked by 4 antheral character swallows. | Courtesy Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

After a fewer tender moments, Betty decided to cheque nan nest, she was not happy what she saw – portion of Sally’s soiled laundry. She flew to Bob, chattering and past flying backmost to nan nest.

Betty directs Bob to region Betty’s soiled laundry retired of nan nest. | Courtesy Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

Eventually, Bob flew to nan nest, squeezed in, and recovered Sally’s calling paper – a soiled feather. Bob cautiously picked it up by his beak and deposited connected a post, six posts distant from nan nest.

Bob deposits nan soiled feather acold distant from nan nest box. | Courtesy Bill Schiess, EastIdahoNews.com

Betty and Bob spent nan adjacent hr doing what 2 birds successful emotion do during nan springtime arsenic they hole for their early family – eating together and moving connected nan nest. I waited and watched, but nary character swallows showed up to interrupt them.

I stayed watching them for almost 2 much hours — wishing nan writer nether nan nest was shorter truthful I could person taken pictures of nan battles connected nan ground. But it was still 1 of my apical 5 vertebrate experiences that I person been capable to witnesser and photograph.

I person immoderate group to convey – whoever has placed caller bluebird nest boxes astir Henrys Lake needs to beryllium thanked, and second, each nan cars that went by me, slow, connected nan roadworthy adjacent nan region vessel dock. They were benignant and person been putting up pinch my emotion of taking pictures of nan birds, particularly bluebirds. One conveyance passed maine 3 times successful nan complete 3 hours that I was there.

I dream each of you bask nan summer, and person a safe and patient one. I besides went stone hunting 3 times during nan past week and ran into 3 rattlesnakes and 4 scorpions. Be observant successful your outdoor activities. Also, respective cervid and elk person died while harvesting cars connected Highway 20 successful Island Park – slow down and prevention your cars.