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Every now and then we see something in nature that tugs at our heart. The other day I spotted a Mother Robin sitting on her nest, which happened to be on top of the light over our back door. The evening was cold, rainy, and windy as I hurried to take out the trash. But as I came back, there sat Mother Robin keeping her babies warm, looking so resolute and devoted. The sight touched me.

There was one problem.

Over the next week, every time I went out that door, three little chicks started tweeting at the top of their tiny lungs, mouths agape for food, thinking I could assist in some way. “She’s coming soon,” I tried to tell them. “She’s out scavenging for worms.”

But they wouldn’t listen. Instead, they kept up their loud cheeping, insisting that lunch be procured immediately. It got so I avoided the back door, mostly using the front, even to empty our garbage. I didn’t want to get these little birds excited and disturb the natural rhythm of their days. I didn’t want to make it harder for Mommy bird.

The sight got me thinking…it’s hard not to admire mothers throughout the animal kingdom. Unlike human access to stores and Uber Eats, these animals must forage daily. I’m always amazed at the females of any species – birds, lions, whales, all of them. Yes, males chip in too (sometimes just for the fun part), but let’s get real: childbirth and rearing chicks, cubs, and whale calves aren’t for the faint-hearted.

A few weeks later, the nest sat empty. My first instinct was to worry, thinking that some predator got ahold of them. But then I Googled how long it takes baby robins to leave the nest after hatching—about 10-14 days. Phew. The timeline worked.

I would’ve loved to have seen their fledgling flights, their mother watching… maybe with pride? Or is she thinking, phew… I now have an empty nest (literally). I wonder what’s going on in the other side of the woods.

After that, I figured that’s my bird experience for the nesting season. At least I can walk out our backdoor again.

The other day I went out our front door and was starting to put a little vinca vine pot in the upper row of a wrought iron wall planter. Funny, I thought, the leftover Spanish moss from last year looks different, almost in a swirly pattern.

Next thing I know, a sparrow flies out from the planter, another nesting mother. Not wanting to touch anything of hers, I picked the whole planter off the wall and peered inside. At first, I couldn’t see anything. But then deep down, I saw about five little pearl-colored eggs, looking like oval sugar cubes. Another nursery has been set up.

Now I can’t go out the front door. Every time I do, Mother Sparrow flies off from the planter in a panic. Soon I’ll have more hatchlings tweeting loudly that they want food NOW!

Oh well. It doesn’t matter.

I’m loving this brief, beautiful glimpse into new life. I’ll do what I must.

 

Are you seeing a lot of evidence of bird babies around? Comments are always welcome and if you’d like posts sent by email, just press here.  Thank you!

Comments(22)

  1. I just love the sweet glimpses into nature! It can be rough. Cruel, even. But these little snapshots make it wonderful!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Diane, Oh yes, nature can be so cruel. That’s why the tender, vulnerable ones always touch my heart.

  2. Laurie, I’m like you. I do whatever it takes to increase the baby birds’ chance of survival, but my dog, Annie, is the wildcard in this scenario. She’s a hunter of everything from small lizards to a possum that’s a third her size. I constantly worry about the babies in the trees and sometimes wish Mama would make her nest in the neighbor’s yard. It’s just too stressful. xoxo, Brenda

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Brenda, I also wouldn’t trust our terrier Libby around them. Although small, she’s bred to hunt. I can see how it would be stressful with Annie, as you try and protect those little creatures!

  3. Loved this! I used to try to rescue birds when I was little. It seemed every spring one baby would fall from a nest ob our property and I’d find it, and try to nurse it back to health. They always died. One chilly spring morning when I was home from college I found 3 tiny kittens alone in a grate. By the time I was told by a vet to get them before they froze there were only 2 so obviously the mother was moving them. I saved the 2 and eventually they were adopted. I was always bringing strays home. I love seeing the circle of life every spring.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Lauren, I was always rescuing animals too when little. You were also a good samaritan as a child, not surprised.

      1. Awe thanks (blushing).

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Lauren, Sounds like you were also a Good Samaritan as a child, not surprised.

    • Lea Sylvestro

    • 10 months ago

    This is such a dear story and such true observations about the challenges of animal motherhood! It’s a privilege and a joy to have that glimpse into the nest and beyond, but as you say, fraught as well. A friend had a robin who came and built a nest in the same spot outside his door every year, and every year, some creature got to the eggs. Hard to observe when nature is cruel! On a side note, for those interested, the Recovering American Wildlife Act (RAWA) has another chance at passing in the senate, so call your senators and urge them to support it and push for a floor vote.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Lea, Yes, nature can be very cruel and indifferent, that’s the hardest part. Will look into the RAWA. Thank you!

  4. I have barn swifts nesting on the front porch of my farm house. Last year, I happened to be in the front when the whole clutch was practicing flying. One of the parents began dive bombing me, right at my face! But it was fun. And I’ve had the privilege of watching a blue bird take its first flight. I haven’t researched it, but apparently some birds fly the coop and never come back. The barn swifts kept sleeping in the nest for about a week after they were flying.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Pennie, How cute, except for that pesky barn swift! Some birds leave home much earlier and with more finality than others. Then what do they do? Live as ‘singles’ until they find a mate? Fascinating.

    • Rita

    • 10 months ago

    I’m glad you enjoyed the bird nests. Sometimes they can make a lot of mess on a house, especially if there are a lot of nests.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Rita, So far, we just have two on our actual house, that I know of, setting up shop.

  5. Nature is amazing. How lucky you were to see that!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Carol, Nature is indeed amazing!

  6. Oh I love this. And you are so caring and attentive to their needs, as you are to all mothers and children. Christie, my daughter, has a nest right near her patio door in California. She has named the Mother and Father, and like clockwork, they come back every spring to start a new family. Christie has read about this species, so the experience seems true. And lovely… Beth

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Beth, Your daughter Christie, sounds like you! No doubt she gets her caring, lovely personality from her mom (and probably also from her dad).

  7. A cardinal built a nest on top of the outdoor lamp by the front door — and it’s not the first time. It seems to be just the right size and shape to hold the twigs and straws of a cardinal’s nest.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 10 months ago

      Joy, They’re very creative in finding good rental property!

  8. We have had birds making a nest in our yard this Spring. But, my roommate also has a cat and has brought in some trophies and left them on her bed. The cycle of life.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 9 months ago

      Rebecca, Argh! I love cats, except for that. Those hunting instincts. I wouldn’t trust my terrier, Libby, either.

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