Some happy news!

And who couldn’t use a little of that on a Monday, right? You might remember that each spring a pair of Eastern Phoebes returns to nest under our deck. Last year I prematurely announced the news that we were going to be parents, of sorts. Sadly, last year’s attempts at starting a new family did not end well for the Phoebes, with the parents abandoning the nest for reasons unknown to us, a couple of tiny eggs left behind.

But this spring they returned undeterred, built a nice nest in just a matter of days, and soon we were treated to the persistent little chirps of hungry baby birds! I was most privy to all this, because Those Two were off vacationing somewhere when the babies were actually born, but they returned in time to see a good deal of the action shortly afterward.

Then, last week, we knew something was up. There was a lot of noise coming from the nest, a songbird crescendo of excitement. My mamas were sure it was going to be the day that the babies took flight, and they sat outside at a respectful distance, waiting for the big moment. But eventually they had to give up their vigil. The next morning, the little Phoebes were still there, but by afternoon, Mama G (and I, too, of course) noticed that the nest was empty.

For several days we could still hear and see various members of the Phoebe family, but by now they were exploring the nearby woods, snapping insects out of midair in the backyard, and occasionally perching near their old nest, ever so briefly. One morning I watched as one of the youngsters perched atop the hummingbird feeder, its head cocked as if trying to make sense of its new world.

I have to admit, 12 years after I was “hatched,” I’m still trying to make sense of it all.