Last summer, a pair of finches made a nest on the wreath on my front door. I watched their family develop, day by day: Four eggs, four baby birds, four fledglings taught how to fly by their parents, and then they were gone.
I suffered empty nest syndrome. Literally.
I took wreath down for the winter and saved the little nest, because I didn’t have the heart to destroy a thing so beautifully made by tiny creatures that don’t have hands.
A Christmas wreath hung on the door until I finally got around to removing it in late January (well, it was festive; it brightened the winter-bleak days).
And I re-hung the “finch wreath,” which is clearly for springtime, but . . . I confess . . . I was hoping . . . .
And along mid-February—might it have been Valentine’s Day? Really?—I heard them.
The tell-tale cheerful chirps, the sweetest bird music, right outside my door.
My heart sang, too: You’re back, you’re back! Welcome home!
They built a new nest and then . . . nothing.
For weeks, nothing.
I began to worry, which makes no sense, because these tiny birds are much more adept at survival than I am. My worry was mostly selfish, I realized. I wanted the birds here, didn’t want them to change their minds, find another place. I wanted to hear their happy voices every morning, wanted the joy they unknowingly impart, wanted to see new life happen again.
Every day, I checked. The perfect little nest was barren. No finches in sight or within hearing.
The temperatures dropped below freezing again. Just as I began to fear that some fate had befallen my finch friends, I wondered: Is it possible that they knew another freeze was coming? That they built the nest as planned, right on schedule, but that they can hold off laying eggs until the cold spell passes? Can that happen?
Then, early yesterday morning, a chorus of chirpy cheer outside my door!
I had to go see . . .
—I have an egg!
Today at the exact same time will be another egg, tomorrow, maybe another, and soon I’ll know how big my little finch family will be.
But for now I just reflect, with reverential awe, on how the first egg came with the first bit of welcome warmth on the first day of the week.
My birds are back home, safe in their sanctuary, on Sunday morning.
And I sing for joy.
lit bits and pieces 
Oh hooray! This makes me sing for joy too. I loved reading these stories last year!
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I too recall with joy your bird stories last year. I look forward to more slices detailing their growth.
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It’s amazing, isn’t it, how the creatures of the wild seem to know just when to do what they do. I’m looking forward to more finch stories as well; a little National Geographic series in our Slicing community!
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Oh, lucky you! At a former school, there were always baby birds born in a crevice outside of our principal’s office and I used to love to go check on them! I loved the tension in your post!
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Thanks for capturing the joy that nature can bring to us and how important those connections are. I find nature grounding and humbling. Suddenly keeping my nest warm and safe doesn’t seem so hard!
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You will have to let us know if another egg appears. I was growing with excitement throughout this piece. Birds are smart! They seem to always know just what to do. I wish I was that in tune. Great slice.
I have to forward this over to one of my friends/ fellow slicer who simply loves nature and birds.
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–We have another egg today! I will write again when Mama Bird stops laying, so we know how many babies to expect. And of course I will post pics when they hatch. 🙂
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You are so lucky! Birds are amazing and to be so close to the nest is amazing. Can’t wait to see and hear more.
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Welcome back to your melodious little family! I had my fingers crossed while reading that they would return.
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That’s amazing! How wonderful to have them once and now twice! Hooray!
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I found it! You’ve inspired me. I need a wreath—or a hanging basket. We have so many finches, but no finch nests yet. We have Tree Swallows and bluebirds. Looking forward to their homecoming makes February a little less bleak. Like you, every year we go through the anticipation, the worry, the joy. So much to relate to!
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So delighted you have enjoyed my finch saga! They’re utterly amazing to watch. I keep walking through my house in fascination that a whole tiny family of creatures is living on my door! I love bluebirds as well; don’t get to see them so close up, though. Here’s to your future finches! Channel Field of Dreams … if you wreath it, they will come …
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