The Saga of Gertrude...

Ok so we all remember the saga of Mildred and her poor offspring. Well as a recap, Mildred was a good for nothing pigeon mother that layed (2) eggs in a nest on my balcony. After they hatched she never attended to her offspring and as a result they died. One died because the bread I left outside for them was pressed into a suffocating helmet over one of the chicklings head, the other was just starved to death.

After this terrible occurence, another pigeon came by and layed (2) eggs in a nest on my balcony, we'll refer to her as Ethel. Now Ethel was a good mother and she kept her eggs warm and fed her kids until they were old enough to flap their wings and go about the world shitting on every car and on some innocent people.

It seems that in the underground pigeon network word has gone around informing all pigeons that my balcony is a safe haven to lay and raise kids. Its like my balcony is the shangri la of astoria for pigeons. So a couple weeks ago, I noticed Gertrude and her pretty shabby nest she built. I figured the wind would blow the nest right off the balcony. To my dismay the wind did not and she layed (2) eggs. She's been perched on the balcony day and night keeping those eggs warm. Even last night as I came out on the balcony to fire up the grill and make some Cajun style Rib-Eye Steaks for dinner, she kept her position and adamantly refused to leave. But I think she's getting used to the idea of me being around. I'm grateful for her accepting me out on the balcony as acceptable. I mean, the apartment is mine and all, but I suppose I'm intruding on her efforts to continue the "flying rat, good for nothing, no purpose on the food chain" process of rearing offspring.

So the story shall continue... Stay tuned for more exciting news coming from one balcony in Astoria.