on nests

Bad news for our renegade mother.  I thought about keeping this to myself, but why?  Is a collective disappointment worse than an individual one?  The nest did not survive, nor the eggs.  Should we have moved the nest to higher ground?  Would the mother have abandoned it?  Is she still courageous, still admirable for forging her own way?  Or is this a reminder of why sometimes ignoring our own history and the wisdom compiled by our ancestors is reckless?

Strangely enough, we found another bird, stuck in our sprinkler head, like a perfect little trap.  What up, aviary nation?!?  The Mister, with the help of another chivalrous friend, managed to untangle the poor little broken bird leg and release it to the air.  I was too traumatized for photos.  Blood on the sprinkler head. . .

And, another incredible nest found to remind us of how often things go right.  This one was huge and empty, having already successfully served its purpose.  Behold: