“In his hands is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind”. Job 12:10
I welcomed the opportunity to attend Robin Hood school during the month of July. This prestigious academy was taught by Betty and Bobby Robin, who chose an ornamental tree in our yard to raise a brood of babies. These colorful songbirds provided an insight into parenting and the order of life that most folks take for granted. They are great parents and I hope they return and raise more babies for our “hood”. This is their story.
We first noticed the nest in our little tree around the first of July. When we detected it, there were four blue eggs and mom. I had no idea that mating Robins stay together during the entire mating season and often return to the same nesting site, particularly if they are successful. About 11 days later, 3 baby robins appeared. The fourth egg is lost to obscurity, however, the three hatchlings kept Betty and Bobby plenty busy. We became concerned the dry and very hot weather would impact their food supply and augmented their rations with fresh mealworms. Just as humans do, they returned to the mealworm bowl often and entertained us with their ability to carry several worms at a time to the nest where they carefully fed the kids, one at a time. Humans will also return to a free food site, eschewing working to earn their food for the prospect of easy food. Human motivation, however, is far different.
The adults, at first, raised hell if we went around the nest, but gradually accepted our presence and would not attempt to lure us away from the site. Their resilience is something to behold. A harsh thunderstorm failed to dissuade them and the heat seemed to cause no harm. About two weeks after hatching, the food truck was kept really busy and we sensed it was getting time. As if on a schedule, all three babies jumped the nest at the same time and scurried across the back of the house, where two fell into the crawl space well, obviously bewildered at their misfortune. I anticipated this, found them and gently removed them to a corner of our yard where they ran to cover. Betty and Bobby watched this rescue from the peak of our roof, and seemed to indicate their approval, or concern as the case may be, by chirping right along. These little guys are now in day two of the most perilous time of their lives, as their ability to strongly fly takes about ten days to develop. We have not seen them since, and I honestly miss them. Most Robins die in their first year and only the strong live to be five or six years old in the wild. I appreciate Betty and Bobby letting us in their family circle……..
The existence of these little guys is due to innate instinct. When I rescued the pair from the well, one opened his beak thinking the shadow of my hand was mom, bringing food, while the other wanted nothing to do with me. Lesson? Kids are different and allowances must be made. In spite of their personalities, they jumped the nest together into the uncertain world that awaited them, hopefully to raise their own babies in a year or so. Betty and Bobby are close by, providing post jump guidance.
Here is my take away. In my earlier life, I was too busy to consider the struggle that nature demands from it’s participants. Sure, I have always known Mother Nature has a cruel side and rewards the fittest of each of her critters, but I did not stop and consider that each creature in our world has a story behind them. Thank you God, for providing me an opportunity later in life, to study and appreciate the world around me. It is raining hard as I write this, again testing the strength of three little Robins who saw the light of day for the first time just under two weeks ago. I will always wonder if they made it…and will never look at a Robin the same way again.
Have a great week.
SR
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