Housing Market
- Jean Maher
- May 6
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
It’s a good day for a prairie hike. I’m so excited by the happenings in a prairie as it awakens after winter, and I can’t wait to head out into this one.
I hear birds talking somewhere beneath my view in the grasses, their chirping and calls are welcome. It gets me going – what might I see? Are there flowers? Birds? It can be a little tough to spot the emerging plants or find the birds, but eventually, the older vegetation will give way. And there is still opportunity to observe birds before trees and shrubs fully leaf out.
Tree swallows winging low over the dried grasses make a disturbance at a scrubby tree. A nesting box, apparently in a prime, high rent district is their target. In this competitive spring market, they like this nesting box, planted on a slight hill next to the small tree and surrounded by some brush cover.
But someone had beaten them to it. Their tactics are intimidation of the current tenant.
I spy a bluebird on defense, who alternates perching above, on top, or near to the box. There must be a nesting female inside. I was impressed by his tenacity. One against two or three swallows. He was persistent in staying close – flexible but alert, patrolling the area. I see his brilliant blue back and orange breast feathers as he flies through the brush around the nestbox.
He scans the sky, watching for the swallows that will try to scare him away.
He stays.
He is quite determined to keep the nesting box for bluebird eggs. An admirable quality.
My busy brain was curious about one thing: does being protective have a downside? Maybe he’d get hurt by the swallows, or not see other dangers, like a hawk that might be nearby. Maybe there’s a safer location with a nestbox elsewhere?
I don’t need to look too far to make a connection between this drama and how I can be quite protective of me. Being aware is one thing, but when I protect myself too much from imagined outcomes or preconceived notions (it might be “bad!”), I don’t grow. I might miss an opportunity, and I surely am wasting energy. I stay “safe.” Whatever that means. What is safe, anyway?
This bird stays. He doesn’t waste time on “what’s the worst that could happen?”
I respect this bird. I wish the family well. He is doing what is right for him.
As for me, I resolve to spread my wings. Most things that can happen are not “bad.” I won’t look back. I will just move forward a little every day and see if I can feel the difference between being too protective and going ahead anyway. :)
