from Marcie....

My Little Fine-feathered Friends

By: Marcie Uson Wise

 

We spent four years living overseas plus one in Hawaii. When we moved back to our home there was lots to do. Lot’s of work to be done. One day around the beginning of spring I decided to buy some hanging plants. I went to Lowe’s Home Improvement store and bought some potted impatients and vinca hanging plants, which I proceeded to hang on our front porch.

A few weeks after hanging the plants, I noticed that every time I opened the front door a bird flew away from my hanging plant to a nearby tree. Upon investigating, I discovered that the mother sparrow had built a nest in the hanging plant. I noticed a tiny, beautiful egg in the nest. Eventually two more eggs appeared.

For the next few weeks, the mama sparrow, Maggie (our dog), and I watched each other through the curtains covering the window or the front door. The sparrow repositioned herself in the nest to keep an eye on me and Maggie. Each time I took Maggie out for a walk, the mama sparrow always flew away. When she left the nest to find food, I hurried to water the vinca plants.

I also introduced our sparrow guests to our two sons, Ben and Adam who also became interested in the comings and goings of the mama as well as how the baby sparrows progressed.

I feel so blessed and lucky that this little feathered friend dropped in for a visit and planned to bring along her noisy babies. My Filipino hospitality set in and I was more than happy to accommodate her for an extended visit.

Three or four weeks later I heard chirping noises. Mama and the baby sparrows exchanged chirps then hopped off into the bushes/below the hanging plant. For five minutes I watched the spot where they entered the shrub and took photos before they flew away to the safety of the upper branches. One by one they all flew away. I hoped that I will see them again, but I know I won’t. Each time I look at the empty nest I feel both sadness and joy because I understood that the sparrows’ departure was exactly as Mother Nature had planned.---#

PHOTOS COMING NEXT!!!