No, a robin was building a nest. This is the top of the green pole you see in the middle of the "mess" in the first picture.
By Friday afternoon, the nest had grown.
And then, by Saturday, it looked like a real nest.
Today, when we got home from church, she was sitting on it.
Totally brooding.
We've been watching her almost non-stop today. From a chair in the hallway with binoculars;
... peeking out our front window. We are SO WORRIED that we are going to disturb her! Every time I've looked out and she's not there, I'm afraid that we've scared her off.
But during one absence, I stuck my camera out the door and got a photo.
Hooray for mothers! Apparently, robins only lay one egg a day until their clutch is done (we've been doing a lot of research). And it's normal for the momma bird to fly away from the nest until all of the eggs are laid. So this is her first day! There will be more eggs, and we are pretty excited.
For the time being, our front porch is *closed*.
Momma guard bird is on duty.