Here's that true tale about jackdaws.

It'll take a while as my poor photos were stored on cards, websites & 'clouds' (why does everything change so fast?). But it's a good story for a Sunday.

Two years ago today, whilst sat indoors, I saw a bird fly straight down a chimney...

Seemed like an optical illusion, 'til it reappeared in the chimney pot as if in a magician's top hat. It came back again & again with chopstick-size twigs. Dropping them like Dambusters. The nurse who'd just moved out, never used the fire due to shifts. Our new neighbours did...

A big guy used to splitting logs had needed to. It was just after the freezing 'beast from the east' had swept snow off the fields and through gates, creating waist-deep, road-wide drifts. I waited to see what would happen. Later, black smoke began billowing from pot on the right

But the jackdaws had built in the left-hand pot. A 50/50 chance and they'd won. They perched on the defunct TV aerial, whilst the smoke cleared, preening each others' feathers. Maybe it warmed their nest? They fledged that year. I liked our new (& old) neighbours. (Found an egg).

After nesting had long ended, both the chimneys had cowls fitted. To be fair, our neighbours had done well to get by on one fire that spring and had respected the birds.

But it still felt sad to me. Then, the following year I saw a pair of jackdaws checking out 'next door'...

My neighbour also had a pair that nested in the far eaves above where she slept. She said they kept her company and she liked their chatter. I'd never caught them on camera. But whilst making tea I saw something completely new...

A well-meaning roofer had repaired her guttering that year. There was a piece of wood added to the corner, blocking up an old hole. It was baffling these smart birds. I could just about reach it (once I'd climbed into that 1970s hedge. Bloody berberis!). The block pivoted open...

The birds got to work (whilst keeping a close eye on me). And I felt rather pleased with myself. All went well - another successful family raised. This week brought us a dilemma...

I’d heard things falling down our boarded-up fireplace.
The old fireplace had gone for ‘looking like a tombstone’.
We’d no access now.
My drive & car was covered in ash twigs. Which seemed to lead away from the house & ash tree...
“Nothing to see here, mate” said the jackdaws.

And so yesterday, up on my roof, in the north wind, trying not to think about Rod Hull, I discovered a missing cowl. And loads of off-target twigs.
What if a bird fell down the chimney?
We’d hear it & be unable to help...
So, checking there was no nest, I covered the chimney.