Empty Nest Syndrome

Last year a pair of House Sparrows nested in the little bird house on our patio.

It hung there “just temporarily” when the Globe Willow came down. Overlooked, it stayed there another year, giving us a second opportunity to share some space with a family of sparrows.

Last year’s male ran off with another “chick” before the eggs even hatched. The little mother amazed us with her constant care and dedication. She chose to ignore us and our proximity as the babies demanded more of her time and food.

I was happy to see this year’s male helping tend to the little brood. He was more hesitant to approach the nest when we were outside. He sat on the chimney and chee-chee’d at us while she scurried back and forth with bugs and seeds. Unfortunately, before the care and feeding was complete, another female lured him away and he did not return.

The mother bird seemed frantic in her efforts the last few days. Those little fledglings (and the crickets!) chirped constantly.

Yesterday evening there was a change. I heard the loud and frantic call of the mother bird in a continuous pattern. Through the patio door, I could see her sitting on the triangle dinner bell (that sits idle since our last chick flew away.)

She escaped as soon as I opened the patio door.

“Hon, hand me the flashlight!” I requested of the guy who knows where everything is in the house, and if he doesn’t know where it is he will find it.

He pointed the beam into the birdhouse entrance, which allowed us to see an empty nest.

“Awww…” I said. “They flew away!”

I woke up this morning to the same frenetic chirping. There she was, once more perched on the bell next to the birdhouse. With feathers fluffed out and neck stretched up, she was calling for her babies.

It “dawned” on me that she had Empty Nest Syndrome.

I turned to the guy who knows where everything is and asked, “That didn’t happen when our last one left, did it?”

“Hmmmmm,” was his initial response.

I could tell he was stalling a little while he thought about his answer.

“I think,” he concluded in an exceedingly diplomatic tone, “it was obvious to me without the flashlight.”

Comments

Anonymous said…
Clap...clap...

Well said, well written. This entry could win a contest somewhere...or earn you money...or both. Submit it...quick!

BTW, in addition to liking your new template, me likey your new profile pic :). DEFINITELY more "you" than the last one!

And because I know you like these, had to share my wv: codfu (it made me grin)
DesLily said…
Awww.. a moment or rememberance LOL.. poor mama birdie! It is hard to go from working your butt off to having nothing to do!

I hate "change" lol
This is my wife all over again!!!
Mother hen!!
Dear pamela. Oh... what a sweet story. I think my parents flew a party when we'd all left home.
katy said…
that was so sweet, poor bird, i know just how she feels, hope they call her often!
Beckie said…
Very nice story, although I was scared for a brief time that something bad happened to the chicks. See, I am still in the paranoid mother stage of life.
Anonymous said…
Oh, what a sweet analogy and story! Mine are leaving the nest one by one these days, but I have a younger one. So I have about 8 more years with her. (although it flies by) I will have to forward your link to my college daughter. Thank you! (I came here through Robin's link at Pensieve, but I will be back)
Tiggerlane said…
What a cute story!

Now I gotta know - did you silently make the "chee-chee" noises? B/c I think I will be doing so...

Hopefully my daughter will have a REAL blog by then, and keep me in the loop.

Great writing, Pamela!
ChrisB said…
Oh the empty nest syndrome I know it well- I even get it when they don't blog how sad is that!! I have an excellent book about this syndrome that was given to me when the girls had left home.
Your posts have a funny way of making me smile.

[Though I must admit to thinking "typical guy behavior" everytime the daddy bird ran off with a mistress.]
BarnGoddess said…
great story...smart man of the house too.

I hope mama Sparrow is choosier next time she chooses another mate!
Hayden said…
wonderfully written and shared. I'm often struck with pangs of concern when I see great, fully grown chicks chasing their bedraggled, worn out mom, fully capable but still begging for the food from her belly. I guess fledging is a no-win.
Susie Q said…
You have such a delightful way with words you know! Wonderful.
And, as always, I will now leave with a big smile on my face!

And I still love the new look here.

I have yet to figure out how to do this but your blog just looks great.
Truly does!

Hugs,
Sue
Fish-2 said…
At least baby birds don't keep moving back into the nest year after year and expecting mom to cook and clean for them...
Anonymous said…
I can imagine as much as I fuss sometimes I will be exactly like the birdie... screetching all the same. Well written.
Bibi said…
That's too funny. My sister has empty nest syndrome right now, but she's in total denial. Everyone knows, but her. LOL.
Anonymous said…
Pam that is such a sweet storie. Why am I crying. Life is so short. Rose
Anonymous said…
How sad! We used to have a robin's nest right outside our window. We watched from when they were eggs until the day they flew away. They never write, they never call . . .
AngelConradie said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
AngelConradie said…
what a beautiful post! i wonder if i'll need a flashlight...

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