This morning, we witnessed something truly amazing. For a couple of months now, a mama bird has had a nest in one of my outdoor plants. She started out trying to make a nest in my very most favorite pot outside, the pot I bought from The Good Earth with money someone gave me for my birthday a year ago. It’s this really nice blue ceramic planter, tall and slender but large enough to plant several plants in. I planted a few bulbs of caladium early in teh spring, and I planted English Ivy and another plant in it. They have done very well. The caladium finally came up after I thought it never would. Finally, just after it started coming up, mama bird decided that the pot would make a great nest. I disagreed.

I took the next out, and I put it on the ground next to the pot, but off the deck. The next day, I saw that the nest was gone. I didn’t know where it went, but I found it again a couple of days later, reinstalled in another pot a few steps away from the first one. I figured I’d leave well enough alone and let her have it there, although there is a whole yard from which to choose. She seemed pretty adamant about it, and I thought it was a good idea to leave it there.

I’m so glad that I did.

A week or two ago, I noticed that there was some activity inside the nest. The chirping had begun, and the mama and daddy birds were quite active around the deck. Every time I watered my plants, I was watched with a careful eye, mama bird making sure that her babies were well cared for and making sure that I didn’t do them any harm. She need not have been worried. I was amazed at the little lives inside the nest.

This morning, we were having breakfast on the deck. Mama and daddy bird were flying about, chirping pretty fiercely and watching us with close eyes. I was sitting near the pot where the nest was located. Mama bird flew up with a worm in her mouth. She wouldn’t go to the nest. I leaned away from the pot. She still hesitated. I finally decided it would be best if I moved away, to sit in another chair further away from the nest.

A few minutes later, I noticed that mama and daddy bird were sitting on the deck top rails, chirping away quite quickly and adamantly. I wondered what they were trying to communicate to the babies. Then, I saw one of the fuzzy headed baby birds emerge from the nest, much bigger than I thought they were. All in all, four baby birds emerged from the nest. One of the birds flew up and landed on the edge of the planter. He had a really short tail, and he seemed very unsteady on his little legs. He hung on, though, and was soon joined by another of his siblings. I was worried that he would fall out of the planter, onto the deck, or worse, onto the ground far below. I was scared for him, and his sibling, also unsteady on his little legs. Or hers. Of course, I have no idea if it was a girl or boy bird!

All of a sudden, the baby bird started flapping his little wings and took off, flying to the top rail of the deck. I was absolutely amazed! The mama and daddy had decided that today was flight day, I suppose.

One by one, the little baby birds left the nest, flying to the trees on the side of our yard, joining the whole bird family. All were chirping happily. I’m sure the mama bird is glad to have her babies out of the nest, away from the scary humans. I was just amazed at how brave the little birds were. How their fuzzy little heads were, how short their tails were, and how when they left the nest, they didn’t return.

Although we’re sad to see them go, we know that they are where they are supposed to be. Just like the red tailed hawks babies we watched grow all spring, these new birds have begun their new lives as part of the wilderness of the woods in which we live.

Some of our lives are spent doing things that are normal, unspecial, and boring. Today was not one of those days. I was able to watch something amazing. Life happens every day. Make sure you don’t miss it.