By Tim Callahan
Birds build their nests in the strangest places, so I imagine the main goal I to stay high and dry and out of range of predators. A roof over ones’ head is all we really need, so why not right above my studio’s porch light!
I was downstate working on a commercial art job and when I returned, they’d already set up house and had four little buff-colored eggs occupied the nest of moss and twigs.
I know what some of you might be thinking – get the hose out and clean house. But here’s what I’m thinking: field research rarely comes to me. What a great opportunity to learn something new about a species I’ve never had the opportunity to watch.
I had to first get the bird book out and make an ID. Turns out the bird is a pewee. Both male and female are identical – kind of olive brown and gray. They’re very dedicated nest sitters, so I tried to limit my comings and goings. I would enter quietly and in a soft (but manly) voice, I would say “Good morning pewees!”
The day the eggs hatched, both parents were busy chasing and feeding bugs to the young pewees – another benefit of my new tenants. It took only a couple of weeks for the young to reach flight stage, and I was there the day they flew the coop and I experienced that empty nest syndrome. I was going to miss the whole pewee family.
I got some great photos and quick sketches and from this research I’m planning on doing a painting and an etching of my new pewee friends. Remember, if you can give mother that little extra room she needs, you’ll be rewarded by the whole experience.
Hope you enjoy this story and sketches of the Eastern Pewee family homestead!
