Bye Bye Birdie

                      A pair of Cardinals are right outside my window caring for their babies. They made their nest in a bush and they watch me as I watch them.
                                           
                                                                                    source
Several years back I purchased a sweet children's bench. It was heavy rod iron and looked like it belonged in a fairy tale.

                       source



One day as I was out watering the flowers I saw a fluttering through the corner of my eye. When I looked it was a fledgling and somehow he had fallen and to make matters worse his leg had become lodged and stuck between the slats of the bench. It was obvious that his leg was broken.

Every time I came near,  his Mama would swoop down from the tree to scare me away.
                                    
                                                                                  source               

I donned my gardening gloves and slowly made my way to the sweet baby bird. I managed to free him, but all he did was sit in the corner of my garden and pant in pain.

I called a Vet and he said to let the Mama take over and that there was nothing he could do for a bird with a broken leg.

For three days I watched the Mom feed him and protect him. She did not abandon him. She took care of all her babies.

Soon he was hopping around and before I knew it he was gone. I was sad when I couldn't see him anymore. I nicknamed him Trooper and I prayed that he wasn't eaten by a feral cat or raccoon.


Fast forward one year.

I was looking out my window watching birds peck and look for food.

When one particular bird caught my attention.

It was a little black bird with a deformed leg...hopping along feeding and joining in the birdie banquet.
                                

                          I wonder........