The first pigeon that tried to nest on our patio, failed. One day, she just disappeared. We found the two eggs alone after waiting for several days. The next mother had more success.

She roosted in the same nest and had, again, two eggs. They hatched. One day, one of them fell onto the balcony. We replaced it back into the nest. Days later, we noticed just one baby, which got bigger and bigger. In fact this youngster was so large their was hardly any room for the mother.

This morning the baby tried it’s wings at flight. He didn’t get far. He sat on the balcony next to the guinea pig cages. (Wonder what they thought.) The mother was calling in the distance. She returned to the nest and appeared a bit stunned that no one was there. The little one saw his mother and took a leap up to the green beam and back to the nest. They snuggled together and competed for room. He wasn’t ready. But that afternoon, I guess he was.

I went back to check and saw a pile of droppings on the guinea pig cage. The young bird must have sat there for a long time before taking the big leap. We never did find out what happened to that other baby.  Yesterady afternoon, we’d found a baby sparrow that had fallen out of it’s nest. I almost stepped on it. Despite our efforts, he didn’t make it either. I guess the ones that are still here, that have had the grace of making it, are the ones with the work to do: find seeds, worms, fly, soar, and strut along the cement with our heads held high.