Sparrows have nested in our yard the last two summers. I know, I know. Too bad they were just sparrows. Well, let me tell you. They are stinkin’ cute to watch grow up. And there are many different kinds of sparrows. These happened to be house sparrows, the most common here, but common or not, I really enjoy watching them.
The first year, they made a nest above our front step, getting in through the light fixture – the glass had broken and we hadn’t had a chance to replace it yet. Not exactly ideal. The babies made a mess on the step, and I didn’t love feeling the need to announce myself every time I got to the front step so I wouldn’t surprise them as they were swooping in and out. The second year, after we replaced the glass in the light fixture, they nested in a couple of cavities in the mountain ash tree in our front yard. Now THAT was ideal. From my office window I watched the adults darting in and out of the cavities for some time taking bits of plant material to build nests. Then I watched them darting in and out bringing food to the babies. I was struck by the fact that it wasn’t just one adult bringing them food. One would go in, another would go out. We hear how it takes a village to raise a child. It was taking a flock to feed these babies!
One evening I heard a racket outside. I went to the window to investigate and there were a couple of finches at the top of the tree making a heck of a noise. Why would the finches be making noise in the tree where the sparrows were nesting? Then I saw it – on the ground, at the base of the tree right in front of where the sparrows were nesting was a merlin – a kind of prairie falcon. It was looking around, likely hungry and trying to figure out how to get at those babies. Finches and sparrows are small birds, but can they ever make a noise to try to chase predators away! I froze – do I grab my camera to take a picture of this magnificent bird, or do I interfere with nature and chase it away to protect the babies that I have clearly become attached to even though I haven’t even seen them yet? In the end, nature decided for me and the merlin left. Phew!
As time went on, the babies started coming out of their nests. They played in the tree, on the grass at the base of the tree, then moved to the bush by the front door. As it happens, that bush is outside my office window, which meant I got to sit watching them play. Soon, the adults took them to the backyard. It was a whole new world! We have a big backyard, with a large terraced flower garden, big mature trees, and a waterfall running through the garden. You should have seen those little babies exploring! At first they walked along the bottom of the fence, presumably feeling secure knowing that this wall was protecting them from whatever was on the other side. Soon they were hopping about in the garden, checking out plants that to us are small, but must have seemed gigantic to them.
One sunny day, the adults took them to the backyard but this time somewhere new: the waterfall! It was like watching a family beach day! Some would lay on the rocks in the sun, some would try to dip their toes in the water, and at some point every one of them would cry to be fed. It was truly sweet to watch. As the summer wore on, they discovered the dishes of water we have out in various parts of the yard. They would learn to hop on the edge and have a drink, or to hop in for a bath. Often there would be lots of little sparrows splashing around in a dish and I would yell to my husband “Pool party!” and he would come to the window and watch with me.
Eventually they would go in the waterfall and to the feeder without the adults, but wherever they were in the yard, they always stuck together.
I think I’m like those sparrows, and I suspect many of us are. We may be “ordinary”, not exotic like a blue jay, but we do our best to take care of our families, enjoy a beach day from time to time, stick together with the people we love, and each have our own gifts. While many may say “Oh, it’s just a sparrow!”, the right person will see that you are different from the rest and stinkin’ cute to watch, will be protective when a falcon comes along, and will want to watch as you grow in your journey, learning new things along the way. And someone may even fill the feeder when they see that you could use some help. My wish for all of us is that we have many people in our lives like that.