I found the robin’s egg mid June lying beneath one of the oak trees in the yard - fragile and smooth it was almost stepped on by a red sneaker and then just as quickly averted being a tasty treat for a dog.
I held the egg close.
I wondered if the mother had pushed it out - knowing possibly that the egg was not fertilized? Could it have been by dropped a squirrel racing home with dinner? Or simply the winds of the nite blowing it out.
No matter..... no longer in the nest it will never hatch.
We have seen 2 broods of our robins since the egg finding. The ones that made it.
When allowed to venture out of the nest, the hatchlings scurry after their parents -mouths squakling and open for food. They are well protected and cared for.
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Hiding in the garden lilies sat a tiny sparrow making noise all morning. I watched as it stumbled, tried to fly, and then retreated again into hiding. It was clearly in distress. Other sparrows lighted on the fence and the tree above him. They answered each of his calls.
The morning was filled with an operatic duet of suffering and hope.
The protecting birds stayed with him all morning. They scared away the nosy squirrels, and they dive bombed the neighborhood cat - both of whom saw this as a great opportunity. The birds took care of their own.
By early afternoon it was quiet and I went out to the garden to bury the sparrow.
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The robin’s egg sits by the window looking out over the side garden. Still smooth, still perfectly blue.
This is spectacular. Years ago I wrote about finding a brand new hatched baby bird and holding it. It was not alive, so frail and alone. As I looked at it the world around was full of life, birds chirping, sun shining, plants growing. The breeze was blowing. I thought, "How rich is nature that it can have such losses and keep shining." It was profound. Just as you said. So happy we share this world.
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