Empty Nests

For several weeks, a dove has spent hours and hours sitting on her nest under the eaves of the carport at our house. Such an obedient little creature she was, following her instincts to keep her eggs warm and safe.  Almost like a pet to me, she got my greetings and “baby-talk” whenever I went outside, and she watched me with her soft, brown eyes.  I was excited for the day of hatching to arrive.  Her mate spent hours sitting with her as well, and to tell you the truth, I never saw the nest empty until last week, the day after we got home from our trip to Texas.  Once in a while this week I’d see her under the eaves, but most of the time, she was gone.

            I listened carefully for any peeping sounds of hungry babies, but heard nothing. Today I climbed up on my stepstool and took a picture of the inside of the nest by stretching up, placing the camera over the nest, and blindly snapping. When I looked at the picture, there were no birds, shells, or feathers in the nest.  All evidence of developing doves had disappeared.  I just don’t think the babies could have grown and flown away without us seeing anything. Very disappointing.

            Oddly enough, the same thing happened in our daughter’s yard this week, but with a darling hummingbird. She, too, sat on her tiny nest, only to disappear as well, leaving an empty nest when there should have been tiny, new birds.

            I can draw no conclusions or lessons from this experience except that this “empty nest” happens with humans as well, often taking us by surprise because we don’t expect it and have a tough time accepting the disappointment that lingers.