Uncertain Bird

Spring is a great time for watching the birds – especially the young ones.

Ready or not, they've been cajoled, encouraged and/or nagged by their parent to leave the nest ... test their wings ... forage for food ... navigate through sky, grass and tree.  Some of the young seem to move from dependence to independence with great confidence while others seem unsure of themselves.

This past weekend, as I traveled the freeway, I saw a large crow flying in swooping circular patterns. Following closely was a much smaller crow – MUCH smaller. The birds were not very high in the sky and that circular flight pattern was tightly restricted. At times, it seemed as if the smaller bird was going to crash right into the big one! Other times, I'd see the little one lose altitude, drop several feet and appear to falter. Those tiny wings were constantly in motion – unlike the larger wings of the parent bird as he (or she) glided and turned. There were even moments when the flapping of that young bird's wings seemed almost frantic as he (or she) tried to catch up and stay close to the larger bird.

I could just imagine the little one hollering: "Mom! SLOW DOWN!"

About a quarter of a mile away from the flying duo – sitting alone on top of a freeway light pole – was yet another VERY small crow. I wondered if he (or she) was part of the test flight crew I had driven past.

Then I imagined THAT little one hollering: "Mom! HEY MOM! When is it MY turn?"

All of this is quite fanciful, of course. Fortunately, there wasn't much traffic on the freeway so I had the luxury of doing a little bird watching.

Contemplating interactions between a parent and child during this season of graduations and school year endings brought back some memories of when my son made the transition from child to adult. He seemed to handle that major life change quite effortlessly.

I'm the one who is still getting the hang of what it means to "leave the nest".

And I confess to missing, on occasion, the "HEY MOM!" hollers of my once young child.