Empty Nesting

Each summer, our little family gets to be the happy host of another little family, a family of house finches.  Mommy and Daddy finch let us know that they're looking for the best location for their nest by sitting on our door wreath and chatting with one another.  We watch them through the glass door when our front door is open.  This year, Mommy finch decided that she wanted her nest to be in my hanging strawberry basket.  And so that's where she and daddy built it.

First there was a perfect little nest, then one tiny blue/green egg, then two, then three.  Mommy finch lovingly warmed them.  Daddy never was far off, talking to her from the tree beside the house.  And about two weeks later, three perfect little finch babies were born.

We watched them every day, taking the basket down and sneaking a peak.  Mommy and Daddy finch attended to them regularly and they grew and grew, until there was no longer room for three finches.  One day when we pulled the basket down to say good morning, big brother was sitting beside the nest.  When we said hello, he flew away!  We caught him and "helped" him back into the basket, but that's not what he wanted because the next day, he was gone again.

A few days later, we heard heavy chattering.  Mom and Dad were flying near the basket stirring up quite a racket.  "Today is the day!" they demanded of their two remaining fledgling fliers.  Little sister stepped up to the side of the nest.  After a couple practice flaps, swish, swish, FLY... away she went, straight up into the air.  Mom and Dad followed after her.  "Hey, what about me," the youngest finch cried out with a demure "cheep."  pause.  "cheep."

A little while later, Mom and Dad were back chattering up a clamor again, "Come on little one; Today is the day!"  This time time, though, big brother and little sister were back with Mom and Dad trying to land back on the nest!  "Oh no you don't" commanded Mom and Dad, shoeing them off each time they came in for a landing.  Busy, busy Mom and Dad had to fly away with the older two and show them where they needed to sit and wait for their youngest sibling.  "She'll never come out if you two cozy up next to her," I imagine they told big brother and little sister.  And so off they went, the four of them, into the tree beside the house, leaving the youngest again who cowered and quietly cried out "cheep." pause.  "cheep."

I would like to have watched them all day, but, as with most days, nature's little wonders must only be a brief delight.  We did not witness the youngest make her debut, but alas, she did at some point because when we later checked the nest, it was empty.  And we have not heard from the finch family since.  But we hope that we shall seem them, or at least their lineage, when nesting time comes around again.