Two days ago i went out to check on the babies a little before noon, and there was only one left in the nest. I saw two sitting up on the firehouse roof chirping and looking a little bewildered. Fearing the worst, i looked down into the alley below, but thankfully could not make out any splatted baby birds. I saw the daddy come over to the babies on the firehouse and then fly away again. I let Nathan know of the developments, and by the time he came home for lunch there was just one sitting there across the way, still peeping, and the nest was empty.
After a while we realized that the last baby was still sitting under the lettuce just beside the nest, looking up at his sibling and contemplating his first flight. I took one last photo of him, inadvertently encouraging him to join the others in leaving home forever. He flew directly to the firehouse rooftop with no trouble at all.
That was the last we saw of them. It’s been two days now, and we’re officially empty-nesters. Looking out at the garden box gives me a little pang of sadness every time. Nathan and i have been spending more time with each other now that there are no little ones around. Their nest is the same way they left it so far, but we’re contemplating converting the space into a bed for another basil plant. We’ve talked about taking up golf, and i plan to begin scrapbooking the memories as soon as we return from vacation in August.
Friday, July 24th, 2009 2:37 pm • life, photography
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July 24th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
rofl. I love you!
July 25th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
awwww
I’m sorry your kids grew up so fast! Maybe they’ll come visit on Christmas and Easter? (if they’re catholic birds anyway).