Leaving The Nest

A few posts ago I shared a picture of very new baby robins in a nest that was in one of our white pine trees.  The trees grow at the edge of our backyard and always seem to attract birds. The other day I got curious about how much those babies had grown…… I was totally surprised!

Those babies had gotten so big; they were perched on the edge of the nest. I had no idea if there were still four of them or not as they were jam-packed in and on that nest. I did not dare get too close because I did not want to scare them into jumping out before they were ready to leave.

I was really grateful for my zoom lens with trying to get their picture. I did not have to get too close and disturb them to much.

I could see Mama Robin sitting on my garden fence with her beak full of a bug. She was not happy that I was checking her nest and she kept a sharp eye on me. I turned to take her picture but she was not having any of that and took off.

Today I went back to take another look and discovered that the babies were gone. I am hoping they took off on their own and did not become a meal for the local predators. The raccoons and stray cats in our area are notorious for hunting the baby birds.

I am hoping to see those young robins hopping about the place waiting for mom and dad to come feed them. It always seems like they leave the protection of that nest a little too early to be safe. It make me wonder if they just outgrow the nest or if something else prompts them to leave.

This is the time of year that many kids are graduating from grade schools, high schools, and colleges. I often wonder if they feel ready to move on or if they are “pushed” to get out of the nest and on to that next level.

I know as parents we try equip our kids to be prepared for when they join the “real world” I am never very sure just what we, as parents, think the real world is. Maybe we should wonder if they are amply prepared to join a different world than the one they are leaving.

Usually by the time our children are ready to move on, they have developed an independent streak that tends to drive parents crazy.  It is always good to remember that it is that same streak that will carry them into and through that next phase of their lives.

My mom always told me to enjoy those days as they would go too fast….and she was right! Those days are a blessing and something to be cherished. It is good to see our children grow and become independent. It is good to see them venture out and make their own homes.

It is also good to see them come back and strengthen those ties to the places and people that were part of their growing up years. It is good to have them come back to visit the nest……

 

 

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children.
One of these is roots, the other, wings.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe