“C’mon down, Robbie.” Harriet’s soft voice was barely audible.
Farther along, on the same branch, Harry, the hairy woodpecker, edged closer to Robbie’s nest. “You guys should get out while you can. Don’t you know there’s crows around? We got out a couple of days ago and they’re still hovering near us.”
“Naaah! They wouldn’t bother me. I’m big and tough. See how tall I can be?”
“Brother Ryan left the nest this morning. I guess I’m next. Not sure what these little guys are going to do.”
“Roberta’s not looking too happy, but I think Ross will fly out with me. See him right here next to me. He’s ready.”
And in fact, that’s just what happened. The big goons left little Roberta alone in the nest, crying her eyes out.
Then finally with one panicked PEEEEEP, she leaped down out of desperation and flapped her wings with all her tiny might.
And a new adventure began.
****
It’s crowded in the old homestead
With only one small room,
Roberta being tiniest,
Her outlook full of gloom.
When Ryan flew, the other boys
Just couldn’t wait to leave,
Roberta stood there all alone
And all she did was grieve.
She called her mother loud and clear,
She called her father too.
They heard her but said, “Berta, dear,
You know it’s up to you.”
“It’s so far down and I’m alone
With no one helping me,
I do not want to die so soon
By falling from this tree.”
“Just take a leap,” her mother said,
“And flap your wings like mad.
Your other option is to stay
And be forever sad.”
Roberta plucked her courage up,
She shrieked and then she leaped,
She flapped her wings and on the ground
She fluttered, “Peep, peep, peep!”
With happiness and wonderment
At being on the ground,
Roberta blinked her eyes and said,
“I’m happy to be down.”
“My whole life lies ahead of me.
I have to do my best
To make it last a long, long time
Before my final rest.”
August 2, 2020 at 1:04 pm
I fell in love with woodpeckers when I was reading Enos Mills’ The Adventures of a Nature Guide. He spent long months watching woodpeckers build their treetrunk nests, leave them, to have them taken over by lots of other animals. I realize I need to listen to a woodpecker.
Um, I don’t suppose you can add an audio file to this post…
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August 2, 2020 at 2:13 pm
Ha ha. I do but it’s all in my head.
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August 3, 2020 at 10:04 am
Hehee. I’m going to see my sister in October and she promised there’s a woodpecker in the woods behind her. We’ll see if he’s still there.
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August 3, 2020 at 10:06 am
I hope he is. They’re so beautiful to see.
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August 8, 2020 at 9:41 am
Never have but I’ve heard them. I am pretty excited to see one. She probably thinks her sister has lost it!
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August 8, 2020 at 4:09 pm
Haha. Way too late for that. 😉
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August 2, 2020 at 1:12 pm
Great photos, Anneli, I love your comments too! Such sweet little birds. 🥰
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August 2, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Thanks, John. I know that at least one survived. Saw him today.
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August 2, 2020 at 2:26 pm
That’s so good! They are such sweet little souls. 😊
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August 2, 2020 at 2:33 pm
Love the photos, and so glad Roberta made it out alive. Hope they are alive a long time and avoid being snatched by predators. They are all so cute.
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August 2, 2020 at 2:45 pm
It’s hard not to worry about them, but if I had to worry about every little animal that lives here….
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August 2, 2020 at 4:03 pm
❤️!
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August 2, 2020 at 6:32 pm
They are so adorable and I love your dialogue. 🙂
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August 2, 2020 at 7:35 pm
MY dialogue? Lynette! This is the birds talking. 😉
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August 2, 2020 at 7:36 pm
I guess that was bad grammar. “These are” the birds talking.
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August 3, 2020 at 12:08 am
Hahaha. 🙂
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August 3, 2020 at 12:31 am
How about “this was” the birds talking? Hahaha. Such pretty little creatures, I hope they make it!
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August 3, 2020 at 8:49 am
I guess no matter how you say it, the birds did the talking. Noisy critters!
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August 3, 2020 at 10:25 am
Those little faces are so sweet. We have a red-headed wood pecker who recently decided to make our backyard his new home. He’s fun to watch.
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August 3, 2020 at 10:27 am
How nice for you, Jill! Do you have your camera warmed up? Lucky you!
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August 3, 2020 at 10:32 am
My camera is getting hot from all of our hummie action!
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August 3, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Oh, that’s right. You have hummingbirds close by too. Great!
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August 3, 2020 at 12:42 pm
Great to hear that all the chicks have fledged. Terrific photos and sweet poem!
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August 4, 2020 at 10:34 am
Thanks, Belinda. We were like “the expectant father at the hospital” as we watched and waited for the baby robins to leave the nest.
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August 4, 2020 at 10:42 am
😊
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August 4, 2020 at 10:15 am
Wonderful pics and poem. way to go, Roberta!
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August 4, 2020 at 10:32 am
When she let out that shriek before she left the nest, I thought she had seen a crow coming for her (but thankfully, it wasn’t), and then I saw her leap out. It was such a big thrill to see.
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August 5, 2020 at 4:46 am
Few people get to see that moment. Awesome!
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August 5, 2020 at 5:36 am
I was lucky because the nest was in a big fir tree not too far from our deck, but yes, it was awesome!
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August 5, 2020 at 8:01 am
😀
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August 5, 2020 at 7:05 am
They grew up so fast! Great pictures as always, Anneli. And the poem is adorable. 😀
Our little ones haven’t flown yet, but probably soon. ❤
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August 5, 2020 at 9:45 am
One of our biggest worries was to keep our dogs away from the area while they were leaving the nest and the time just after that. Somehow we managed it. It was sure stressful waiting for that last chick to fly. So glad she did.
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August 8, 2020 at 9:36 am
Oh, they’re adorable! But fledging time is stressful. Well, it is for us observers. I wonder if the birds just think it’s fun?
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August 8, 2020 at 4:08 pm
I don’t think they do. I think they’re terrified, judging by the shriek that last baby robin gave just before she flew. But stressful for us too, yes!
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August 9, 2020 at 3:33 pm
Are you their mama or is mama robin their mama haha? yes, very hard not to worry. Such cuties, too.
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August 9, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Sometimes I get confused…. 🙂
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August 9, 2020 at 6:19 pm
I can understand why!
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August 13, 2020 at 1:22 pm
PHABULOUS PHOTOS! Ah, the woodpecker is a funny, sharp bird. We have several families in the woods next to us, and on our suet. They have quite the personality. xo
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August 13, 2020 at 1:28 pm
I really love seeing woodpeckers. So good to hear that you have suet out for them.
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