When you think of bluebirds, you probably think of  pretty, cheerful bits of fluff.  After all, don't we always hear about the "bluebird of happiness"? But what we do not hear about, is the incredible amount of "white paint" these tiny little birds are capable of producing. Nor do we often hear that they have an annoying habit of throwing themselves against living room windows . . . repetedly . . . as early in the morning as possible.

No, we just don't hear of those things. And so we, blissfully ignorant as we were, hung our nesting box on the wall of an old trailer which sits on the opposite side of our driveway. The driveway where our two black vehicles often sit. Er, make that our two FORMERLY black vehicles. We were full of joy as we saw this bluebird couple take up residence in the box and begin their family. But that was not to last.

You would think that nesting birds with five or so hungry babies to feed would be too busy to make trouble. But not this pair. Thump, thump, thump. There they go again. My husband gives them the evil eye as he watchs them leave the window and perch upon his new truck, his baby.  "Maybe they'll knock themselves silly, "  I sooth.

Then the snake arrived and our bluebird adventure came to a sudden end. The blacksnake went home with a full belly and Ma & Pa Bird packed up and went in search of other windows to try their kamakazi stunts on. We washed the vehicles and enjoyed our new found quiet. And a Carolina wren took up residence near our front porch and began to eat the abundant supply of moths under the porchlight.

Be careful what you ask for, you may get it.