True story: a friend of mine recently witnessed two robins fluttering over a cardinal’s nest, which they then attacked and destroyed, eggs and all. Robins! All my fanciful ideas about them have been given a good dose in reality. As my husband said, “Red in tooth and claw.” That’s the truth about what happens out there in the animal world. It’s easy to anthropomorphize the creatures we see, attributing goodness and high moral character to some, while demonizing and attributing evil to others (killer sharks come to mind – we call them that as if the other sharks aren’t doing their share of killing). Animals always do precisely what they were created to do. And sometimes that isn’t pretty.
Well, I have been schooled. But restoring animals to their proper place in the universe, also means recognizing that they are not human in their response to these catastrophic events either. I might have painted an equally fanciful picture in my mind of the female cardinal going through the five stages of grieving, but in reality, she picked herself up and followed her mate to a different shrub in which to build her nest. Life goes on.
Her new location may be safe from robins, but there are squirrels that might find the nest and do the same thing. Red in tooth and claw.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. Therefore do not fear. You are of more value than many sparrows.”
Therefore, do not fear.
I’ll probably delete this in the morning. But right now, I have to go make supper.
Lynniebeemuseoday 
Sadly, I have not seen the female Cardinal for more than 24 hours. But this morning I saw a red squirrel scramble up to the best. By the time I exploded out the back door he was head down in the nest in sort of a squirrel version of dumpster diving. I fear our Cardinal will have to start all over—again. 😔
LikeLike
Sad news for the cardinal, and I suppose it is good news for the squirrel. It reminds me of a poem that Mary Oliver wrote about a fish and a bear. Thanks for the update. I’m still rooting for the cardinal!
LikeLike