Birds of a feather…?

Posted on | May 26, 2009 |

I was painting the deck the other day when I noticed a certain amount of activity in the wisteria that rampages around one end of it. Robins were dashing to and fro. I continued to paint, aware that this was not a good place for a nest as this door is heavily used. The Robins were building a nest, there was no doubt about it now. We had tea after a while, and the female Robin was getting her nest just right about three feet from where we sat. The painting continued, and so did the nest construction.

I began to hope that the Robins would be happy to be so close to us, and wouldn’t mind the sounds and sights of clumsy human as they raised their brood. I began to wonder what I could do to persuade the squirrels to keep away, too, since they’d rob the nest given even a tiny chance. I was getting quite protective about ‘my’ Robins.

Two days later the nest is constructed but the birds, spooked by so much activity, have given up.

It astounds me that the genetic imperative remains so strong in so many creatures even when the obvious dangers of the situation are so plain. It’s almost as if they just can’t see the disadvantages of their chosen lifestyle, even though everyone else can. So here’s a thought: We’re like Robins. We build houses along the San Andreas fault, sure that it won’t hurt us. Or perhaps we build them in the California hills, hoping the bush fires won’t rage in our direction. Even more sinister is that we can see we’re choking in our own pollution, but just we keep on building our nests as if it really will be safe for the next generation, as if we don’t have to take action and choose more wisely if we want to survive.

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