Molly Maguire and the Robins [View all]

[IrishAyes]

This past Monday an immensely powerful straight-line wind knocked over a trumpet vine arbor in my front yard that had been standing there almost 8 years. It was the very first thing I ever planted after buying this place, and I thought that by now it was strong enough to withstand anything. Not so.

I discovered two nests had been hidden in the thicket, and sadly, the young robins lay dead near one another as well. They were big enough to have been flying before the storm struck. The deaths of these poor little things bothered me a lot more than the loss of the arbor. The trumpet vine will grow back and next time be kept to a far less lethal size. I gave the little robins a proper disposal but forgot to pick up their nest.

Next time I stepped outdoors, I saw Molly Maguire curled up around the nest like it was her own. In fact, it is now because she carries it all around the yard with her everywhere she goes. It's beyond sad but still endearing to see her mope around with that bird nest like it was her own puppies she lost. Thank goodness Brigid, the JRT, has no interest in Molly's treasure or she would've shredded it in short order. But I can't help believing that Molly is mourning the loss of those birds somehow. She would've made a great mom herself, which brings me to another reason I refuse to breed even show quality dogs; because I KNOW the mother grieves when her pups are gone. How they ever forgive us is beyond me.