Nature Notes ~ The Urge to Reproduce

Springtime engenders thoughts of love or at least of continuing

the species. This friendly huntsman female, resident in my

bedroom, is heavy with young. Soon she will produce more than

100 live babies as small as pin heads and will expire. Her life's

work will be done and I shall miss her protective presence.

To all those of you who worry about my huntsman in the

bedroom: huntsmen do not spin webs, just as their name

suggests, they hunt.They are fast runners and can jump 1'

in any direction on a vertical wall. I have had one run across

my face as i slept which was not particularly pleasant but at

least I had no mosquito bite that night. One must be grateful

for small mercies!

The swallows in my yet to be studio are sitting on eggs but

this one at a friend's place is busy reinforcing her nest from

last year

while this cheeky starling is gathering material to augment

his/hers.

In my mountain garden I came upon this little family tidying

up my gravel yard.

Look ma, she's looking at us . . .

never mind dear, she's all right, probably out to smell the roses.

I'll just nip off while ma's not looking . . .

oooh, its scary out there in the bush by yourself . . .

I wasn't really scared, the milk bar is open, I only came back

for a drink.

All photos enlarge.

Thanks to Michelle of Rambling Woods for hosting this meme.

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