Saturday, July 21, 2012

Nature's rewards



My little bird family moved out today. This morning I knew something was up. They all seemed very restless and I just had a feeling they were getting ready to leave the nest. The strongest one (that pushed the littlest one out of the nest earlier) was of course the first to go, followed closely by the other strong one. The little one that I picked up off the ground and fed was the last to go. She seemed so scared. Her mom called and called her and she just kept peeping and hopping around in the nest. I turned the bowl with the nest in it on it's side and moved it closer to the edge of the deck facing the woods, and she still wouldn't go. So I took the bowl and nest to the edge of the woods where the rest of the family was. They continued to call her, and as her legs got a little stronger, she stood up and hopped to the ground. Her mom came and got her and off they flew. I watched mom give her some food, so she is still being taken care of.
I am so glad that I picked that little one up off the ground and fed her and gave her a chance to make it in the world. How lucky that I just happened to have an extra nest hanging around here! It has been such a joy to have them around and watch them, first with the nest building and then sitting with the eggs and finally feeding them and then helping them fly off. Such a metaphor for life, really. Just because you aren't the strongest or the pushiest, doesn't mean you don't deserve a chance at life. You might just need a little more help to get started!
So, now I have one empty nest and in less than a month my own sweet child will be leaving again for school..... and that will be the emptiest nest of all!

11 comments:

Judi Tavill said...

Seriously? AWWWWWWWWW.

Amy said...

wow! you write with such compassion. neat story! hope another family comes to the nest...

Melissa Rohrer said...

Been enjoying the nature documentary. The reluctant jumper reminds me of the first time I walked out on the high board at the swimming pool.

yolande clark said...

Oh Tracey. I finally visited after a long no-blog-reading period, and I am so dismayed to read about your recent surgery--although I’m sure you’re have recovered considerably, and will be feeling A ok very soon. What a thing to go through. We can relate a little bit, because one of the reasons I’ve been so absent from the “blogosphere” (ick), is that Lee has been in and out of hospital recently with kidney problems...Health issues are such a weird combination of frightening and annoying, but also maybe grounding in a way--heart-softening. I don’t know. Anyway. Can’t get over the awesomeness of North Carolina potters. I’d love to visit some day. And while I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in organized sports, or tv-watching in general, I have a strange and secret passion for the olympics and the tour de France, and both have this completely weird effect of making me super-emotional. Fun! I guess I'm a sucker for heroics. Oh, and no fracking way: NC and New Brunswick. Geesh. And of course, big cheers for the birds. Well, off to have a baby (in a week or so). Take care of yourself. xo yo

cookingwithgas said...

yeah! I love watching them fly and cheering them on! Go,go,go!
And soon your Wes- Go,go,go- fly!
Hugs Galore

Laura Farrow said...

fabulous footage again, and what a great story! xo

k.houser said...

have enjoyed the birdie saga and its happy ending...glad you are feeling better also.

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

oh the angst of it all. Hope mamma gets the baby lots of needed protein, i.e. BUGS.
I've got so many more birds this year, I moved the feeder and the water trough too. And the doves take these dainty sips, and the towhees flop in and go wild with bathing and scattering the water to the winds.
Loved the video, Tracey

Tracey Broome said...

So glad everyone enjoyed my birds!! Thanks for the comments :)

Anonymous said...

Tracey,
I have been so busy with making pots that I have not visited any blogs for some time. Sorry to hear about your surgery, and glad to hear everything went well.
Your post about facebook and twitter cracked me up! I feel the same about it. Blogging is much better for me...more insights as to what going on in the studio, etc.
Your work is looking beautiful. Hope you can get back into it soon!
Lucy

Tracey Broome said...

Lucy,thanks so much for leaving a comment, I appreciate your kind words!