Breaking Out

On Monday I spent a long time staring at my computer screen. I couldn’t take my eyes away yet I wasn’t working or writing letters or doing any of the things I’d intended to do and I wasn’t touching any keys.

Before my eyes a young osprey was fighting its way out of its egg. It took a much longer time than I had anticipated and at times when it stopped for a rest of a few seconds, my heart was in my mouth waiting to see that it was okay and would start its breakout again. And then there it was! Amazing.

I don’t know quite why I was filled with such wonder about it. I was a midwife so it’s not as if birth is new to me, and I’ve seen plenty of lambs being born. But I think I found this so awe inspiring because it was up to this tiny chick to break himself out; a job only he could do. The female parent was looking on as if she too saw the wonder of what was happening and when he finally emerged she seemed to stare at him, head moving from side to side checking out her new chick. Then the male bird arrived with a large flounder to feed his partner and he also stopped to stare. Both adult birds curled their razor sharp talons inwards so they would not harm their new, tiny chick.

There is so much negativity on the news at the moment. Facebook users are very quick to pass on any wrong government does or any wrong anyone does and it isn’t good for us. It seems easier to pass on the bad news or the difficult news or the news that shocks us. Journalists are the same. Bad news headlines sell papers.

On the nature and bird watching sites I’m linked to it’s the opposite and I daily hear news of how watching nature improves mental health and how nature is recovering while humans are staying inside. You don’t need to go far to engage with nature; look out of a window and see what is flying past. It may only be a fly or a bee or something else small but you may be surprised.

On one of the nature posts naturalist Chris Packham was lying on a patch of grass looking up through the trees to the sky. It isn’t a view we get very often if at all. I’m hoping to try that on a warm day although I won’t be lying on the grass, it will be a lounger for me.

I have continued to watch the osprey nest through the week and I am pleased to pass on the great news that there are now three young ospreys and they are all doing very well. It’s amazing to think that these birds will fly to Africa at the end of summer to spend winter there before returning next year.

Psalm 8:3-4;6-8
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

Jane