Unfortunately, some birds seem to be better at nesting than others. We have found dead, underdeveloped baby birds smashed on the concrete under the nests before. I don’t know if it was a random mishap, or a stiff breeze, or baby walked to close to the edge and didn’t listen to mama saying don’t do that, but that bird leaving the nest was the last thing it ever did.
Here we are still getting used to Jeddy having an actual permanent address that’s not ours, and already the next birdie is getting ready to fly.
Unfortunate smooshed birds notwithstanding, it’s not the possibility of my birdie plummeting to disaster that scares me.
My fear is that she’ll soar.
I know her wings are strong and healthy and there’s no reasonable danger in her perching on the very edge of the nest. Soon she’ll step off, and flap away…and she’ll be completely fine. She won’t need me to bring her worms or sit on her to keep her warm anymore. She’ll soar, and she’ll flourish, and she’ll succeed, away from us. And we won’t get to see it up close.
Is it true that mama birds push the babies out to force them to fly? I don’t know (Lizzy would know). Maybe some of them have to.
But maybe there are some that the mama bird kinda wishes would stay a little bit longer. Maybe those mamas have to be brave birdies to watch that baby step onto the edge and jump out, waving goodbye and heading for the clouds.
