Home sweet home

For this week, we have a new theme in SMAP contest: bird houses!

As in the human kingdom, bird houses come in many shapes and sizes. For sure, when we hear bird houses, we normally think of the usual ones we see hanging in a tree, or in a wall, a human creation for our feathered friends.

Like this one, one of the many in Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, a gorgeous park in southern Portugal.

Honestly, I prefer the bird-made instead of the human-made.

It's amazing how intricate some of these "houses" can be; some are hidden from the curious eyes, both human and predator ones... and some are in plain sight!

This black-winged stilt, for instance, choose to build its home right next to a nature trail!

It was a surprise, but I'm not complaining: just felt lucky for being able to see a nesting bird so clearly!

Soma animals are a bit more lazy/practical, and choose already a pre-made house, instead of going through all the work of building it from scratch.

A common wall in a Moroccan building? Yes. But looking closely... also a loft for the common sparrow!

Well, this wall could almost be called an apartment building, since sparrows weren't the only ones to take advantage of the built-in holes. Looking closely, the pigeon on the far right seemd to enjoy the location too; although I'm unsure wether the hole was home or just a small refuge of the scorching Moroccan sun.

Also in a sunny place, but going back to the bird-made houses, this was one I particularly enjoyed. The construction itself seems a bit sloppy, for sure. But spotting a newborn bird resting there? Priceless!

Even the feathers weren't fully grown! If my memory serves me right, this was a baby black kite. There were a ton in the area, but this was the first time I saw a juvenile in the nest, and so young!

As you can see, the house construction doesn't seem to be the best... but was providing the necessary support for sure! :)

Still haven't joined Splinterlands? In what planet do you live in? Click the banner below and join the fun! (It has my referral link; you can go directly to the website if you don't want to use it; either way... join in! 😎 )