The highest honour

After my weightlifting club session, I headed home to get Cronus and Rhea’s treats, and made my way to see them - a routine that has lasted a pandemic and several lockdowns. I knew they had two nestlings because I saw their little heads pop out off the nest when I walked by their tree a few weeks ago.  Last week the fledglings were out of the nest and holding on to the tree but I couldn't see them well, the weather was horrible. 

Cronus, Rhea, Poseidon & Hera
(28/05/2021)

For several times this week I continued to have a few glances of the two juveniles here and there, but they would not leave the safe coverage provided by the nearby leafy tree. I was shouted at by their parents a few times because I was looking and looking in the hope of finding them, which in retrospect was not a good thing to do - humans are dangerous, so I always made sure I was alone when peaking through the trees. The last couple of days I couldn't see the youngsters at all and became worried. 

Rhea supervising the juveniles whilst
Cronus walked around the roof with a fluffy head.
(28/05/2021)

But today, when I arrived at the woodland area where they live, I dropped their treats at the bottom of ‘our’ tree, and Cronus came with Rhea, but then they flew back and forth without touching the suet and the morio worms I took for them. It was odd. They did this every time a magpie would approach the 'treats tree', but there were no magpies on site today (unusual also). So I walked to a safe distance and the little ones came out of their hiding, one at a time, I got closer to a local fence, and one of the little ones perched on it, looking at me. The other one flew to the roof to join his/her parents. I said hi to the one in the fence and he/she then joined in with the family. 

I stayed around a few more minutes to see one of the little ones join Rhea at the top of the chimney to start playing with the aerial. It was lovely to be able to see them all together, I felt very humbled by the whole thing. I love this pair, they always cheer me up with their interactions, and now to see them as a family of 4, is just the cherry on the top of the cake. I saw them build their nest, Rhea sit on the eggs, Cronus feeding them all, and now as proud parents of the 2021 generation. 

Welcome to this world Poseidon and Hera. May you live a long and healthy crow life.

Wherever life may take you, you will always have an ally in me.