Mother Nature at Work...

We are welcomed home by a new arrival: a spring robin has made her nest over the living room window which also faces our deck. So, to enter the house, we’re disturbing the robin. I promptly put up a sign: Ssh! Robin on nest. Use garage entry.

Everyone is very respectful.

Ms Robin sits dutifully on a clutch of who knows how many eggs. Periodically, she flies off but always faithfully returns. One day we are rewarded with the view of not one, not two but FOUR bald little heads -- beaks open wide, on scrawny bare-skinned necks -- wobbling to and fro they look for all the world like little flowers swaying in unison in the breeze.

It amazes me Mother Robin is so diligent. What is it drives her to feed those hungry, demanding mouths? How does she remember where the babies are? Sometimes we worry when she stays away too long but sure enough, one more look and there she is. Standing on the nest edge, filling beak after beak, with still wriggling worms.

The nest is very full and we wonder how everyone will fit in once they grow a little. Someone might have to move out on the ledge. The good news is, once they try flying, the deck isn’t too far a fall.

We hope as we shiver under our own covers on cold nights, that mother is keeping them warm under her rusty feather breast.

Mother Robin’s steadfastness and the babies’ fragility touch me. Watching Mother Nature at work, I can only hope She’ll let this little mother succeed so these four little robins survive and thrive.