Two years ago, I had put up a wire basket on the outside my patio to hold a wi-fi mesh pod. It looked nice and worked great. I could roam around anywhere in my garden within 100 feet range and stay connected.
This year, after the winter was over and the snow was gone, we started coming out on the patio. This is the magical season we wait for every year. We can come out, breathe the fresh air, feel the soothing warmth of the sun, watch the grass grow, trees blossom, and birds begin to sing.
One morning in early May, I noticed few twigs hanging from my Wi-Fi basket. Next day, there were some more. We soon realized that a finch discovered the basket and had decided to build a nest in it. We watched her progress every day. Mom and dad work actively to build a nest and create new life. Finch is a small bird and so are their nests. They can put 3-4 eggs in one nest. I figured out a way to watch what was going on inside. I will stand on the edge of the patio door, raise my iPhone high above the nest, and look inside with the selfie camera. It worked.
It was exciting. I waited with anticipation every day. What changes and progress will I see today. In time, the eggs hatched, and the babies appeared. We were wondering how long it will be before they get big enough and fly away.
Then, one day, a tragedy happened. A blue jay discovered the finch nest. My neighbors saw him first and warned me that he may attack the nest. I tried to put a mesh around the nest, but it could not do it. The location of the nest would not allow it. Blue jay waited patiently. Then, after we had left the patio, he attacked the nest. He killed the three babies in it. I was horrified and really upset. I could not sleep for several days. I felt helpless and frustrated that I couldn’t save the babies. It reminded me of the time almost nine years ago when I had to let my beloved cat, Princess, go. She was eighteen years old, and the time had come for her.
My neighbor said, “Anil, this is the circle of life. That’s the way it goes. Move on.” And I did.
But this is not the end of story, only a continuation.
After the tragic finch nest incident, I covered the Wi-Fi basket with a cardboard flat top and a cutout for the wi-fi pod in it. I did not want to see a similar tragedy again.
Therefore, I was surprised few days later to see some more twigs dangling again from the top of the Wi-Fi basket! What is going on, I wondered. The basket was completely sealed with the flat top.
It seems, a Robin had discovered this spot and liked it to build her nest. Robin is a much bigger bird than a Finch. Their nests are also constructed differently. They need to be sturdier to accommodate more weight. Robins add mud to their nests along with twigs to make them stronger. Also, they build their nests on a flat surface. Obviously, she liked this spot.
Once again, I started my daily watch to monitor the new nest’s progress. In a way, it was redemption – a second chance. It took Robin 3-4 days to build the nest. It was almost five inches high and four inches in diameter.
I googled to check how Robins nest building process. I found out that Robins build the nest in 3-4 days and then lay 3 to 4 eggs in it over a period of 4-8 days.
I waited. I did not want to peak in too early and wanted to be extremely careful in doing so.
About a week later, I positioned my iPhone selfie camera on top of the nest. I saw two beautiful blue eggs – the famous Robin’s Blue color eggs. The feeling is hard to describe, a combination of serenity, peace, and joy.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could live our entire lives feeling that way? I suppose it is possible if we really want to and can stay away from the temptations and desires the world lures us into.
You must be wondering what happened next. Unfortunately, it did not have a happy ending either. One day, Robin just disappeared and didn’t come back. She had abandoned the nest. We don’t know why. Again, google research suggested that sometimes Robins do that, if they think eggs or the environment is not viable. We waited and waited. Finally, we had to take the nest down.
This is the reality of life. We cannot control its flow. It goes, the way it goes. It gives us moments of anticipation, excitement, joy, exhilaration, and heartaches as well at times. We can’t pick and choose. We have to take it all, the way it comes.
Good night.