by Cheryl Batavia

We Mourn Our Losses

Photo by Jamie Street from Unsplash

We Mourn Our Losses

Yesterday, I heard a loud commotion outside the window. I arrived just in time to see, silhouetted against the sunny sky, screaming birds pursuing slightly larger birds as they rose high in the sky. Then I noticed the mangled nest!

Sadly, I had witnessed a similar scenario before. A dozen years ago, I saw two angry mockingbirds repeatedly attacking a much larger osprey who was carrying their chick to its nest on a pole high above the parking lot. It was a hopeless situation for the mockingbirds, but they continued to attack.

Though I didn’t get a clear view of the birds yesterday, I am pretty sure the nest raider was a blue jay, known for preying on cardinal chicks.

Soon all was quiet. I saw the male cardinal pausing at the edge of the woods, silent now, and looking back toward the ruined nest as if to say goodbye. Cardinal family, you are in my thoughts. I share your sorrow, and I will always remember being privileged to witness your loving family life for an all-too-brief period.

I was too distraught to write about these devastating events yesterday, but this morning, it occurred to me that, even among humans, this is nature’s way. Many human children are victims of accidents, cruel diseases, famines, and wars not of their making. Many children die too soon. Today, I grieve for all the lost children, both animal and human.

We Mourn Our Losses

Joys and sorrows shared.

Births and deaths both nature’s way;

we mourn our losses.

Love makes us vulnerable…

both animals and humans.

61 Comments

  3. Unknown's avatar

    It’s really heartbreaking news, Cheryl. Feel so sad by the cruelty. Hope the Cardinals will rebuild their nest and have their chicks again, making their family complete. Mother nature will compensate them.
    We can only pray that no more children have to suffer due to human inflicted violence 🙏

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Mousumi, Thank you so much for your empathetic and thoughtful comment. 💕

      Animals usually kill to eat and to survive. Human beings kill from greed, hatred, and a lust for power. I loved the cardinals, and this incident made me very sad, but I don’t blame the blue jay. I agree with you about wishing the cardinals success with raising future families.

      I share your hopes that children will no longer have to suffer from human-inflicted violence. It is so disheartening that humans never seem to learn to live in peace. 🌈

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  5. Unknown's avatar

    Ouch! I was so looking forward to cheery posts about the cardinals. Sigh! But in the animal world they kill to survive. Whereas we do it for reasons that don’t warrant killing.
    A very moving write, Cheryl. We learn something new everyday. ❤️

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  6. Unknown's avatar

    Indeed very sad, nature sometimes seemingly very cruel, but that’s just the way it is. Gentlest and most humane of the expressions that you have shown here, Cheryl. My sincere thanks. 🙏🙏

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  10. Unknown's avatar

    A person cannot truly be said to be a lover of the earth unless they are up to the task of accepting that not all the denizens of this planet are held to the constraints of human civilization. Not even humans are uniformly held to that anymore. With nature we take the good and the uncomfortable. And we who are wise avoid attempting to pet the fluffy cows of Yellowstone. 🙂

    Great poem. Truly moving.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      That is very sad to watch, Thomas. I can’t think of any way to protect the nests from larger birds. I saw a pair of mourning doves in the back yard today. I don’t think we have crows here, but we do have hawks. While, in theory, I don’t believe in interfering with nature, I would have protected the cardinals if I could!

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 💕💙💕

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  14. Unknown's avatar

    We had a small birdhouse in the woods near a window. A family of sparrows moved in, and we sort of became friends. One day the parents were teaching the young ones how to fly out of the nest. The last one to try failed, crashed, and died. For 2 days the mother sat on the perch and looked at the baby. I finally climbed down there and removed it properly. These are families, and they do care.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      My heartfelt thanks, KK, for your kind words. 💕❤️💕

      Cardinals are territorial during the breeding season. This morning, I saw the male checking out the wild shrubs at the edge of the woods behind our house.

      Birds, maybe the cardinals, are eating the sunflower seeds, evident from the hulls littering the sidewalk. Robert went out to move the feeder to the side of the house. He said both birds flew from the palm tree where their ruined nest is. I think they may yet raise another family near here. I admire their resilience!

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      1. Unknown's avatar

        You’re so right here, Cheryl. Birds are not only resilient, but also intelligent and understand the reality. It’s believed that they start chirping loudly before a natural calamity strikes. Thanks and you’re most welcome!

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  17. Unknown's avatar

    Oh I’m soooo sorry, Cheryl. This was such a gift to witness for you. The jays make me so angry but as you saym this is nature. Yesterday, Star caught a bird and killed it and when I rescued it, it was sadly already gone. ugh. Often I catch them and am able to release them. Nature, humans … it’s natures way as you say in your beautiful words.💕💓

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  19. Unknown's avatar

    Sorry to hear the news of the cardinal family. For this very reason Blue Jays are in my top 5 least favorite birds. Nature is remarkable at recovery and I am sure though likely saddened (in a non anthropomorphized manner) I am sure they regrouped and likely working on a second brood with a more watchful eye.

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  20. Unknown's avatar

    Oh dear Cheryl. Sad that you had to witness that. It’s not easy out there. Survival is an everyday struggle

    I hope you’re feeling more relaxed now. It’s so sad but it happens even without witnesses.
    Be well my sweet friend. Hugs hugs.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      HI, Selma! It did hit me pretty hard when the baby cardinals were kidnapped! But I have been watching the new family. There are three fledglings, one male and two females. The mother still feeds them even though they are almost her size. I have also seen the father feeding “Little Mama,” as I call her.

      She and some other birds are curious about me, and peek at me through the windows They are all waiting for me each morning when I fill the feeders. I will write about these experiences when I return. XO

      🌸🌺🌼

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  22. Unknown's avatar

    Beautiful post, Cheryl. I remember seeing a distraught bird in Norway. Its chick had died, and it refused to leave. It cried all night and day until the housekeeping staff came and picked up the dead chick.
    Your words at the end of the post are profound.

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      1. Unknown's avatar

        I’m also happy to meet you, Cheryl. When I wasn’t here, I still followed your advice.

        Enjoy your break. I wish you and your family, good health. Peace!🤍💙💙

        Do take your time, provide space…and have an open heart, to appreciate what you have today, with you.😊

        My PG is complete now. Will receive my degree in December.
        I’m currently at my home; sharing and enjoying my life with my parents.
        I have continued my preparation for the Civil Services.

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