Today, work started to replace our roof. It was loud and it was messy, but it was fast and efficient and they made good progress. They worked a long day, finally leaving just before seven o’clock this evening. But not before handing me a box.
I was slightly taken aback. It took me a moment to work out what the roofer was trying to tell me as he cradled this box, so carefully. Then the box cheeped.
Three baby birds, whose nest had been in the roof. Three baby birds whose nest was no longer in the roof.
With an apologetic shrug and a wave, I was left, literally holding the babies.
For the next half an hour those poor babies sat in my kitchen while I googled and made phone calls and sent texts.
There was nothing I could do for these birds. Strictly speaking, I was not allowed to do anything for these birds.
Nature must be left to do its thing, Google informed me. Birds that fall from their nest should be left alone. Birds that seem abandoned might not be. Interfering could make matters worse.
I know all that Google, but you try listening to the sad and desperate cheeping of three scared and hungry baby birds.
And, they hadn’t fallen, or been abandoned. They had been removed from their nest and handed to me in a box!
In the end, there was nothing else to be done but put the box outside and hope for the best. Hope that the mother was still looking for them, hope that she would find them before a cat, hope that it wasn’t already too late.
As soon as I left the box on our porch, the mother bird appeared. The cheeping became a conversation and after what seemed like forever, the mother bird overcame her fear of the strange box and joined her babies.
Briefly. But, it was a start.
When my husband got home, we made a nest as best we could to keep them warm, transferred the babies and wedged the box into a tree just next to the porch. Hidden from the sight of cats.
We’ve done all we can.
It’s now gone 11 o’clock, my post for The Prompt should have been published hours ago, and this isn’t the post I expected to be writing.
But, I couldn’t leave those birds. I had to know that the mother had found them, I had to know that she stayed. I had to keep an eye out for cats!
And, it struck me while all this was going on that an element of trust is inherent in everything.
That as I stood there hoping that these babies would survive, I was placing my trust. In nature, in the maternal instincts of a bird, in my decision to put them where I did.
That even as I was trusting that the mother would still be looking for her missing babies, those babies were trusting that they would be found.
That those baby birds cheeped and scrabbled and reached; expecting food and contact. That they expected their mother to come.
I’m sure many people would say; it’s just a bird, not my problem, let nature take its course.
But, having been handed those birds, I felt responsible. I felt that a burden of trust had been placed on me.
That’s how it is. Precious things are placed in our hands, and we are responsible. They trust in us, and we have to trust in ourselves. To do the right thing, to protect, to be there.
There is fear of course, in that trust. Fear of being let down, of letting others down, of letting yourself down.
But ultimately, when someone (or a bird) is left in your trust you do what you can, even if that isn’t enough, even when you fail.
Because otherwise, what’s the point?
You can find this weeks #ThePrompt linky here. I do hope this week’s prompt inspired you; I look forward to reading your posts.
Did she come back for her babies? Such a sweet piece of writing Sara, and it can take on many connotations. I’d have been exactly the same…
Thank you Renee, and she did :)
Please tell us some good news–that their mama came back for them. You’ve hit the nail on the head with trust here, Sara. It is a burden and there is fear attached to it, but we have to do what we can, because otherwise, there’s no point, like you mentioned. A lovely piece, Sara. Your words are so succinct and so moving. You say so much with so little, and it’s done with such finesse and beauty. Thank you for sharing and for having us on #ThePrompt
Thank you Maria, that’s a really lovely comment. The mummy bird did find her babies, which was a great relief!
What a lovely post. You’re right there is that trust issue isn’t there? Did she come back for her babies? I hope so. :)
She did come back, which was quite wonderful to witness x
Trusting others can be so tough. And like trusting nature, you are not sure if they will come through and if they will take care of things as you want them to. Hope those babies are okay.
Trust can be so difficult. The mummy bird did come back, she found the nest we made x
Oh my goodness, my heart was in my mouth Sara. I couldn’t leave those babies either. Trusting nature to take its course is one thing, but like you I’d feel trust had been passed to me to look after them. I felt really pleased when the mummy bird came back, but then she went…how are the babies now? xxx #ThePrompt
There was no way I could have just left them without trying to help! The mummy bird did find them, and she found the nest that we put into the tree too. Two of the three birds looked strong when they were handed to me, one sadly didn’t (and I honestly don’t think it would have survived irrespective of the nest incident). The two stronger babies however got stronger over the next couple of days, we kept an eye on them, and they survived :)
I can absolutely identify with this. A few years ago, I was at work, bored in the office as usual, when a lorry driver knocked on the door. (My Dad sells lorry trailers) He beckoned me outside and I was expecting a complaint about a flat tyre or a missing lightbulb…but no, not speaking any English, the man pointed underneath the trailer and was making what looked like a bowl shape with his hands. I shrugged at first and started to hand him a pen and paper hoping I could translate what he had written (what would we do without Google?!) He waved his hands frustratingly at me and then I heard the squeaks. Two baby pigeons nesting amongst the metalwork!
Between us we did our best to move them and at least some of the nesting material into a box. I got some bread and milk in a saucer hoping this would sustain them until Mum returned. They had the beginnings of flying ability so I hoped for the best (and trusted in nature, you might say) when later on they were gone.
I hope your babies are thriving x
It’s hard to know quite what to do, isn’t it. We did much the same, although I didn’t feed them, as the mother bird came back to them as soon as I put them where she could hear them! Two of the babies were strong when they were found and they did really well! Sadly, one of them wasn’t as strong. But, we did what we could.
Wow! My heart was in my mouth reading that, I do hope the baby birds made it (don’t tell me if they didn’t, I’ll just assume they did!) Trust is a poisoned chalice when it’s handed to us but I guess the best of us step up to the plate and do our best. Lovely post, Sara, as always.
You’re right, we need to step up, don’t we x
I would have done the same as you.
I really hope the babies are ok and their Mum found them and is looking after them, poor little things.
Their mum did find them, and the two stronger babies continued to thrive, which was a huge relief x
I would have done exactly the same in your shoes Sara – so glad that the mummy bird came back for her babies and hope they are still thriving in their new nest.
The two stronger babies did thrive, before flying the nest :) They were close to being fully fledged when they were handed to me x
Oh poor babies! I think it really shows the mother in you, to feel that burden of trust to keep those birds safe from harm and give them the best shot at survival. I’d like to think we’d all do the same though. Do you know if they survived? Thanks for linking up to #thetruthabout Xx
That’s an interesting way to look at it, perhaps it is an inherent mothering instinct? Two of the babies continued to do really well in the new nest, and have now flown :) The third looked like it wouldn’t have survived irrespective of the nest incident x
Ehh Trust, I find it such a bittersweet thing. We need to put our trust in things and people but it’s so hard to not feel fear of being let down or of things not going our way. The last line sums it up perfectly for me.
I’ve seen in the comments above Mummy bird came back, I’m so glad x
It is hard, isn’t it? But, we have to do it x
Oh my goodness, I couldn’t have left them to nature either, so glad mama bird came back.
Your words are beautiful and perfectly sum up the emotional ties that trust invokes
Thank you very much Amanda x
What a great and beautiful post! Glad the mummy bird came back too! #brilliantblogposts
Thank you x
Awww, that’s beautiful. I am so glad you looked after them, and did what you thought best. I would have done the same. It is hard to not interfere with nature, but I think those circumstances (with your roof) are a little different. Let us know what happens to them please? #brilliantblogposts
Thank you. I’m glad to say that the mother bird found them and two of the babies survived, which was a great relief x
I’m so sorry I didn’t leave a comment when I read this a few days ago – too absorbed in the story!!
I think you’re right about our instinct; we trust in ourselves to do the right thing whether we fail at it or not, but we instinctively do what we believe is true in our hearts and we assume everyone else will do the same,
I think Trust is on the of most important connections we can have with someone, and like you say if we don’t have trust what do we have?!
Am so glad Mama bird came home and trusted to find her little ones xx
I completely agree, without trust there really isn’t much point, but it is a hard thing to do x
Aww! What a beautifully written post….
So glad the mother came back for her babies and they survived x
Thank you Kim x
A very beautifully written post – I’m so glad the mummy came back! #brilliantblogposts
Thank you Megan x
Absolutely beautiful, I’m so pleased she came back but then I would expect nothing less from the animal/bird world. Where humans continually make mistakes and get it wrong, animals have such an innate instinct for getting it right. Thank you so much for looking after those little birds X #brilliantblogposts
Thank you, and you’re right, there are times when we could learn a lot from the animal world x
Aw, those poor birds! I totally understand you did the best you could to save them. Even if it wasn’t enough, you should trust yourself that you did the best you could. Btw, I totally love this prompt. Unfortunately, I was not in a good place to post something for it. #BrilliantBlogPosts
Thank you, it’s all we can do really isn’t it? Do our best x
You had a job to do, and you did it. Well done! (I can see, from your replies to other comments, that it paid off!)
Thank you Phil x
I loved this and I was captivated by your words. I’ve had something similar happen and like you, I couldn’t stop thinking about the bird (it was one for me). Such a lovely perspective on trust that you’ve shared here.
Thanks for sharing and linking up to the #SHINEbloghop.
Wishing you a lovely evening.
xoxo
Thank you Jennifer, and thank you for hosting x
Sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone and what will be will be.
You do, don’t you x
Is this fictional? I wrote an animation film called Little Bird which has been storyboarded and an animatic made of an abandoned bird who falls from the roof of a hotel in Greece, this took me right back to it and that one day I hope I get to complete it. Beautifully written and so glad the Mother returned x
No, this really happened, a rather stressful evening all told! I would love to see your animation x