A ROAD TRIP FOR THE BIRDS - Traveling in our Dutchman Fifth Wheel

It is amazing the beauty in this world of ours. And when you are going down the road in a large or small camper, you can experience so much of that beauty. My husband and I are veteran campers and have memories of wonderful times together with family and by our selves. Leaving our driveway on one of our trips, we never would have suspected we were displacing a family of birds.

PREPARATIONS COMPLETE

Several years ago, we took such a trip in our Dutchman camper. That 35 ft BH (bunk house) camper slept 8 and we were a family of 8. We were rolling down the road to the Guntersville State Park in Alabama. When we pulled into the park, you could see that the park had not been maintained. My heart sank as I figured this was a bad mistake.

LOOKING PAST THE FIRST IMPRESSION

The full hookup site, which was and still is uncommon in state parks was nothing more than a road to stop on. There wasn’t any yard and I don’t remember a picnic table. But it was a reserved site and I was determined to make it work. We begin to set up inside. As I looked out the camper window, I saw 6 or 7 beautiful deer. They were close enough to touch and then I knew this is going to be a great week.

Baby Birds Found

It was a beautiful day and we got our folding chairs out and sat outside watching the deer. All of us noticed a frequent tweeting sound. We were all quiet for a second, but that chirping sound kept on. We all walked around the site and couldn’t find anything for a time. Suddenly, my younger granddaughter heard something near the front of the camper. We all began to investigate. Then we realized that a nest of baby birds was in the curved neck of the camper. We had traveled some distance from home with the baby birds in the hookup neck of the camper. How they survived, I do not know.

One of the attractions of this park was the nature station. We thought maybe the staff there could take the babies and take care of them. The keeper said she would.

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW

Back at the campsite, my younger granddaughter bravely put her small hand in the neck of the camper. She pulled the nest out first and put it in my hand. Then one by one she pulled the featherless, tiny birds out and placed them in the nest. They were so tiny and helpless. Then we took that nest to the nature station. Along the way, kids in the campground started following us. They were all thrilled when we showed them the baby birds. I imagine we were the talk of the park.