Jinxed

You remember when I said I was probably jinxing the incredible power of our HVAC unit in our "One Year Later" post? Well, so far I haven't experienced that jinx. I did manage to jinx another portion of that post - namely "What we love - our Covered deck". Yep. Not loving it the past 2 days - AT ALL. I know it is shocking, but I did not have this super amazing deck built to house random critters. Go to your own home CRITTERS! Here is a photo that I took 2 nights ago of the critter.

At first I thought it was a bat. Then I was scared it was a snake. After turning on the lights and fan - with no movement from the "thing" - Colin went out and snapped a couple pictures.

Seriously?  What is that?  Not a bat or snake (thank goodness!) My brother guessed owl.  I was wishing I had an iphone (with an app for identifying critters).  But I love Sprint - can't switch - even for an iphone. 

Last night we went to Colin's lawyer's league softball game and then out for pizza with the team.  We got home about 8:30 so it was already dark.  Critter was back.  ARRRGGGH.  I turned on the light and the fan again - but he didn't move.  We put Connor to bed and then Colin went out to investigate.  There was the same one (pictured above) and another one in a 2nd corner of the deck.  SERIOUSLY??

My brother came over to check out the situation.  We were really just so annoyed.  Maybe it was baby hawks??  2 on one side - finally revealing their heads after the paparazzi show Colin was putting on . . .

I called wildlife rescue this morning to see if they would come out and "rescue" the critters.  I sent them the pictures Colin took.  They called back to tell me we were blessed with Carolina Wren Songbirds - they roost at night and leave by daybreak.  No nest - just sleeping on our deck.  No problem.

Um, except that it is OUR deck - not theirs!!!  I have plenty of trees and birdhouses (left by prior owner) for the CWSs to roost in and on.  GO AWAY!

My dad came over tonight to help me put up some hardware cloth - which btw isn't cloth at all - it is smaller than chicken wire and stronger than screen.  We hope it sends the message.  I am actually videoing the corner in question at the moment to see if the birds try to roost again.  I'll watch it back tomorrow and provide an update.  I actually put the camera on HD night vision - to make sure I capture the attempt and failure (we hope!)