One thing we can count on here on the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada is the wind. The day can be calm as can be, and then, as it happened just yesterday, trash cans can blow in every direction.
Winter, spring, summer, fall, Zephyr winds blow through all.
Currently, a young mother robin, is battling nature on our patio,fluttering against strong gusts. Bringing in twig after twig, she places them and they are blown to the ground, where she swoops down to pick them up and try again.
This isn’t only about nest-building, but about tenacity, fortitude, and the will to build a home, no matter the conditions. It’s all about persistence in the face of adversity while enduring extreme conditions. All those college words mean nothing to this little bird. She’s just preparing her nursery for her new family.
If there’s one thing HHH and I differ about, it’s the wind. He sees it as an ever-present force working against progress. This comes after years of working in outdoors in heavy construction, while the wind played havoc with the machinery and the work site. I must agree there’s nothing worse than working outside on a windy day. This is especially true when temperatures are pushing 100 and the wind feels like a blow-torch.
I love the wind. The windier the better. This comes from living in Central California, where there was very little wind, EVER. The skies never change from a greyish blue, while the stillness of a summer day is absolutely suffocating. Temperatures there soar well above 100 as the residents always assure newcomers that it’s a dry heat. Who cares???? It’s hot and still.
The wind is a force of nature that’s mysterious and unpredictable at times. It can flatten the fences in a neighborhood and then be gone for three months. It flutters the cottonwood leaves, producing the sweetest lullaby, or on really bad days, rattle the windows here at Winterpast. On the desert, you just never know.
Watching this young mother choose her site has been interesting. Although no perfect spots exist, the patio gives a little more protection than the trees on the property. She’s chosen flexible, strong materials such as grasses and leaves and slowly, they’ve taken the shape of a comfy nest. With repeated efforts, each failed attempt has taught her something new.
One thing is for certain. She isn’t giving up. Without one bit of hesitation, she’s kept going even when her efforts blew away in the beginning. The wind scattered her progress, but it didn’t stop the process. Very soon, she’ll sit quietly on a clutch of new eggs, while the cycle of life will begin again.
The next time I experience struggles and the winds of life are against me, I’ll remember this little bird. If you drop your twig, circle back, pick it up and try again. Even if strong gusts are blowing you off course at the moment, keep going. Soon, they’ll subside and things will return to normal.
This summer, take a moment to watch some birds. If you have a bird feeder and a source for water, you may be lucky enough to watch a nest of your own. Birds are a special gift of nature. Their quiet determination can teach us a lot about life.
