This morning a little ornithological drama played out on our front porch. A robin had built her nest inside one of the large shrubs that flank our front door, and this morning she decided it was time for her fledgling to leave the nest. She first tried coaxing it out with a nice, juicy worm (well, I'm assuming it was, anyway). She managed to keep the worm in her beak while repeatedly calling to her baby, who responded with chirps. Because we had our windows and doors open, we heard their "conversation" and noticed that our cats (who are strictly indoors) were stationed at the screen door, so we watched, too. It took mama robin many attempts to get little robin to venture to the edge of the shrub. She then tried to get it to emerge from the shrub by hopping up on the porch with the worm and calling. All this attracted the attention of an outdoor neighborhood cat who was soon on our porch and ready to snatch the little robin. My husband, hero of the day, saved the young bird by chasing off the cat with a broom (gently, I might add). It took several tries before it finally gave up. The fledgling left the shrub at last and is presumably now testing its wings.
Of course, all this remined me of "Opie the Birdman." I couldn't help but think of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod and Opie's realization that he must release the birds to live their own life, just as the mama would have done. Of course, there was also the neighbor's cat that gave Andy, Opie, Barney, and Aunt Bee some anxious moments. And there was the nice, juicy worm that Opie described to Aunt Bee at the breakfast table. Like Andy, I used the opportunity to teach my 10-year-old daughter a brief life lesson, illustrated by the robin's action. I told her that our job as parents isn't just to provide for her the things she needs but to prepare her for adulthood so that she's ready to assume the responsibilities of being grown up when she leaves our "nest." Yes, life is like Mayberry! Thelma Lou (Janet) _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
