For a number of reasons, I was stuck at home today. And Tai Chi Spotted Turtle-dove (to give her correct name), came to visit.

I learn so much about my Tai Chi practice from this bird whose sense of balance, harmony, and zoning out, always seem to give me something new to contemplate.

But today, TC was not just visiting.  In the small bush beyond the fence, she has designs in mind.
And as I watched out the kitchen window waiting for the kettle to bring a cuppa to boil, she arrived with first one small twig, then another, then another of increasing size.  By this time the kettle was busily looking after itself, as I’d slipped into the workroom, grabbed the V3 and the 300mm PF and TC 1.4, I’d been playing with earlier.

With the patio doorway cracked open and sitting on a convenient footstool, it seemed to me like the perfect birdhide.
And still she kept coming, and going with the usual ‘clatter of wings’.  The small garden area on ourside was also carefully inspected, and I came to the conclusion this nesting construction was as deliberate as any of her other activities.  Sticks small and large were tested, lifted up, inspected and then discarded if not suited to purpose.  Only the best would do  it seems. Did each stick contribute a measure of “chi”, that she found to be essential for its use and purpose I wondered.

And these were taken airborne to the roof of nextdoor, while she sat on the edge of the gutter, trying to work out the best arrangement of angle to get the piece in to the site.

This would not be easy, as her entry point required a flight under the patio cover and out, to line up for the entry into the bush.  So she stuck to the work, and her male came by to check on the doings. Cooing approvingly, and then departing.

After an hour or so, the work seemed to be over for the day, and she settled down for a rest in the sunshine.  Always keeping the nest in view.

I await further developments.