CAPE WAGTAILS

We have lived in our home for a number of years.
When I first planted my garden in the Winter of 1993 the plants took off like a bat out of hell and within a few years it looked like a jungle.
A pair of Wagtails moved into the ivy which used to cover the wall behind the pool. I would watch them day in and day out and observe their family life.
She would breed out a new set of chicks at least every eight weeks (not that I really counted).
At first they only had one (the second egg she would discard, kick out). But in later years up to three chicks were reared at a time.
Now whether this is the same pair of just a new generation remains to be debated (I have no idea how long they live but definitely not 16 years).
One year I recall we went away for a month down to the Cape on holiday. When we returned the garden had this weird chirp, chirp, cheep, cheep on investigation I was surprised to find that an African Red Chested Cuckoo had dropped it's egg into her nest and of course, none the wiser to her, she incubated and hatched it. The funniest sight to see how this tiny little mum & dad (there was no choice in the matter) flew in and out from dawn to dusk to keep this little mite fed. Then when they finally decided to get rid of it, they would fly out at dawn and only return at dusk ... I think in the hope of losing it!!!!
One year there was a huge storm brewing and the little nest was exposed to some degree, as the gardener had been and trimmed back for the season. I was so afraid that these little chicks would be left out in the elements that I took a paper plate and tried to wedge it into the ivy to afford some protection for the little blighters. To my utter dismay they took fright and I was trying to salvage one from the pool and another from behind a rock and the other well no idea what happened to it? All the while mother was screaming at me like a fish wife. She did manage to get them to safety in the neighbors yard but was traumatized for having to teach these chicks to fly in the wink of an eye because I thought I was so clever. She never trusted me after that. They still returned to feed in the garden (I never use insecticides, and no longer have animals, so they probably feel safe here). But if I went outside and she was near - well - if words could kill (or cheeps) I would be long gone.
They are back again nesting somewhere in my jungle.
I do not like keeping my doors and windows shut as I like the fresh air in my home, come rain or shine Summer or Winter, but with me spending time at my pc they think this is the bee's knees!!! Daily I come in or out and here is a great big blob of bird poo smack bang in the middle of my kitchen floor!!! The little devils, but I love them and they can get away with murder with me .......... Here's to all my free babies I house.