Gaining Independence

      A little drama unfolded here at our house on the fourth of July. It didn’t involve fireworks or big explosions, but did create somewhat of a commotion.

      For several weeks Al and I had been watching a female blackbird who was sitting on a nest in a hanging basket on the back porch. She had woven it between the reddish leaves of a large “Wandering Jew” plant, not the best place for a nest in our estimation. It was cramped for space and got soggy when the automatic watering system came on early in the morning. She didn’t seem to mind that, or our walking directly underneath her many times a day as we went in and out the back door.

      Then we noticed her leaving several times a day to get food and heard loud chirping noises coming from the nest. Finally on Independence Day, I spotted a tiny bird standing on one of the leaves, ready to take his first flight. After fluttering his wings a bit, he somehow went straight up, landing on the ledge above the basket.

    The parents were close by, chattering away at him. After getting stuck in the overhead water line for a few anxious moments, he managed to break free, only to fly into a spiny golden torch cactus a few feet away. It was painful to watch, but there was nothing I could do to help.

     The male blackbird was nearby, giving the baby some encouragement (or advice?) as he tried to maneuver through the stickers. After that, the little guy flew to one of the patio chairs where he got one leg tangled in the webbing of the seat, dangling upside down. That was too much for me. I was ready to charge outside and free him, but the plucky bird finally got his leg loose and was able to follow his father out into the yard.

     Well, with most of the morning spent bird-watching, I got busy cleaning the house and didn’t think of the bird’s nest until late that afternoon. By that time, three more birds were on the ground. All three appeared to be injured, having missed the crash pad that I put under the nest as a precaution. The parents continued to feed them until dusk, finally leaving them to huddle together on the patio.  

     When Al went outside Saturday morning, there were only two babies remaining on the ground. They had moved to a more sheltered place of refuge next to the patio wall, which was a good sign. Both adult blackbirds were trying to entice the babies with tiny pieces of food.

    When one bird flew to the top of the fence around the dog run, the perkier of the two followed him. However this baby only made it about halfway up the fence, grabbing onto one of the horizontal wires with its claws. Our golden retriever suddenly became interested in what was going on and inched his way over to the fence. Before he could grab the baby bird, it shot off the wire, went past the kitchen window and out into the garden. Pretty good flying for a novice!

      By the time the sun set, there was just one hatchling left on the patio.

    “What can I do to help?” Al spoke out the very words which I had been thinking all along.  

     “I don’t think we can do anything. Let’s just leave it alone and wait until morning.”

We were both relieved to discover that the last bird had flown off in the early hours of the day.

      This little backyard drama reminded me of the agony that parents feel when it is time for their children to “leave the nest” and go out on their own. Many times all they can do is watch, pray and be there for encouragement when and if it is needed. It can be rough on parents and kids alike; and yet it is a necessary part of growing up.

      Dear Lord, please give us wisdom to know how best to help as our loved ones leave the safety of home and family to begin new lives on their own. Protect and guide them through this process. May we all grow closer to You. We ask this in Christ’s name, Amen.

“He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23: 3b NIV

(Published in the Porterville Recorder July 2014)