American Robins nest decorated with ribbon. Central Park, NYC

[The Blue Flower]

2. Robin mama built a nest in the crook of my downspout

It was so artful, with trailing dry grasses decorating it. I was blessed to be watching it when the two grown babies decided she wasn't coming back, and it was time to try their wings. They were standing on the edge of the nest, fully grown, shoulder to shoulder, watching for her to come back with their next meal. I could almost see them shrug their shoulders and tell each other it was time. Then they flew away. That was two years ago. Another bird built another nest on top of it this spring, and I was excited that we might have new babies to watch. But there was a wind storm a couple of weeks ago, and the two-story nest ended up on the ground.