I know that cry - my female parakeet lays eggs like a chicken and has a fit when I finally take the unfertilized eggs out of her cage. I've put her in with my male...maybe she won't have to lament any more ;)
Mournful, Jim. Desperately so. I have seen animals on various nature programs watching as a predator takes their young, or their eggs. The frantic behavior is a universal emotion to which all beings relate, as you've shown us here so effectively.
Amazing scene depiction in so few words. I thought of two possibilities. One is fear of a pedator causing the mother to leave the egg unprotected. The other of a sudden frost that endangers the egg.
Thank you for that, William. Later reads show me the two possibilities, too. My intention was that ". . . a pedator causing the mother to leave the egg unprotected . . ." As you suggested.
While attempting to photograph a nest of hatchligs of osprey I saw the same behavior. As soon as I stepped out of behind a huge tree to get a good shot the mother would fly off, crying pitieously and I would back off. After three times, trying to remain hidden and still get a shot, I left. I couldn't bear her pain and the noises she made. My photos would have to wait until I could bring in some better cover. We would often watch the kildeers when we were kids, never realizing that they were protecting nests.
That's the feeling EXACTLY, Wanda. Thank you so much for sharing your perfectly limned story! What havoc those protecting mothers wreak until we understand, and, as you said, " . . . back off."
The sound of the killdeer is pure panic. It was an ongoing childhood activity trying to guess where the eggs where as she tried to lure you in another direction. There was a sandpit near where I grew up and the eggs blended right in. You had to be very careful where you stepped. Thanks for taking me back there for a moment.
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Comments: 34
Beautifully written!
Thank you, Amy. The antics of a killdeer when a nest is threatened, are heartrending indeed. Your compliment warms me.
Thank you, Lisa.
Thank you, Jen. :-)
Thank you, Becca. Much appreciated.
Thank you, Margo. :-)
Thank you, Sheila. I appreciate your support.
Friend,
CoffeeLady
Thank you, CoffeeLady. I'm glad you liked it. :-)
Sorry, Aunt Boni. I saw this scene as a boy in the marshes of Marin and it has haunted me ever since. Here's a clean hanky.
Sounds good to me, Cecile. Does she sing any better? ;-)
This makes me sad.
Thank you, Charli. I'm pleased that the poem works.
Thanks for taking me back there for a moment.