Family Values

A robin family has inexplicably selected a crook in the drainpipe on the side of our garage, as their chosen land. The parents built a mud and grass nest. Eggs were layed. Babies hatched. A Parental Robin will often take a stand on the walk near the drainpipe, with a worm dangling from it's beak. If undisturbed, it will flutter up and feed the little ones. If anything feels amiss, however, the bird will fly away and wait out the untidiness in a nearby tree.

Sheryl, being the most observant, and the self-appointed hausfrau, was the first to notice the nest, and the mother robin sitting expectantly on the eggs. It wasn't long, a week or two, before they hatched. The babies have always been rather scruffy and unattractive. Their parents, however, are relentlessly dedicated to them. Sheryl has seen the parental robins chasing away hawks, which like to lurk threateningly.

We feel privileged to have the opportunity to share our good fortune with this little family. To watch the babies grow, and to watch the parents love them, and protect them.

Life is good, all the time.

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addendum 20090826:

Early Wednesday afternoon the hawks attacked. Sheryl was home. They killed 3 of the babies, and carried off 2. The lone survivor was traumatized. He wouldn't eat. He didn't trust his own parents. Jumping from the nest, but too young to fly, he refused the raw chicken that Sheryl attempted to feed him. He refused the juicy worms his parents offered him. Sheryl carefully put him back into nest each time he jumped out, while his parents flew around making a fuss.

Eventually he stayed put. Probably exhausted.

Sheryl and I left to row. When we returned he was gone.

The nest is empty now. I looked inside, and was amazed at the smooth roundness of the interior.

I still believe that life is good, all the time.