Happy Mother’s Day to all moms around the world, including our feathered friends. It’s springtime, and birds are busy gathering twigs and grasses to build their nests and lay their tiny eggs. Some sparrows have already had a new brood, and we’ve caught them feeding their fledglings and teaching them how to fly.

One year, we spotted robins gathering dried grass to build a nest and saw them fly in and out of a boxwood bush at the front corner of our house. Sure enough, they were building a small nest where we could see it. We named them Bertha and Albert. We checked their nest every day as tiny blue eggs appeared, one each day until there were five. One by one, the eggs hatched, and the featherless babies begged for food. They grew at an amazing rate and soon the nest was crammed with anxious children.

The Robin’s Nest
by Dee Bowlin

Newlyweds choose the right spot for 
their house of twigs, dried grass, and leaves.
As Mrs. lays one marbled egg per day,
Mister sings songs of love and praise. 

Their house of twigs, dried grass, and leaves
is nestled down deep in boxwoods,
an umbrella from rain and a haven from harm.

As Mrs. lays one marbled egg per day,
she knows two weeks will bring open beaks
begging for bugs and worms.

Mister sings songs of love and praise
as eggshells crack and tiny heads appear.
Soon, his flight school begins.

Four fledglings flew off to start their new life when we weren’t looking, but we saw the fifth one leave the nest. We named him Samuel, and he kept us company all summer along with Bertha and Albert.