The day was bright. The air was soft. It was Spring. Nearby were two happily singing blackbirds that were searching for a place where they might build their nest. They were a mama and papa bird. after looking at many trees, bushes and vines they came to the ideal spot for their new home. This was a beautiful, leafy Camellia bush that grew under the eaves of a vacant house.

With much joyful chirping they gathered tiny sticks, blades of dry grass and pieces of strings and with these they built their nest. It was such fun for the two black birds to build their home; and to have found such a cozy place! Here under the overlapping roof of the house they were protected from the wind and rain.

One day the black birds awoke to find the vacant house filled with people. They had moved in after dark while the birds were sleeping. At first the birds were frightened, but soon grew accustomed to their presence. The family was very thoughtful and no one disturbed them. They enjoyed watching the birds from the window.

Mamma black bird laid her eggs in the nest and sat quietly for many days waiting for them to hatch. Papa serenaded her cheerfully and took turns keeping the eggs warm so that she could go eat. Sometimes  he brought her food.

One day the children heard unfamiliar sounds coming from the nest. Soon the entire family gathered at the window to view the nest. There were three tiny bodies with bright yellow bills that were open...begging for the food their mamma and papa birds brought to them.

Back and forth the birds flew, as they scoured the countryside seeking food for their baby birdies. The tiny birds grew fast, and soon were wildly chirping and wiggling about a nest...that was getting too small for them.

The inevitable day arrived when they had to learn to fly. It was time to leave the nest. The young birds screamed loudly, excitedly urged on by their parents. One by one they jumped out of the nest; then sat on the limb stretching and flapping their wings. They'd nearly fall off their perch; then continue practicing like they were about to take flight. Bravely, one by one leaped off the vine and clumsily sailed away almost crash landing in nearby bushes, trees all the while accompanied and encouraged by their noisy parents. Not one fell to the ground. It was exhilarating to fly for the first time. That night the children looked out of the window at the empty nest. The birds were gone, and probably gone forever. They felt sad.

The next morning the blackbird family were chattering in the trees where they had flown the day before. The children were delighted to see they were still around. The young birds were about to learn a new lesson...how to feed themselves.

 

Before long the blackbird family were seen eating on the ground together. They learned their lessons well, and graduated as full flown adults. Spring's green grass and flowers passed away. Summer too, with it's golden grain, busy bees, and ripening fruit, was turning into Autumn. Now it was time for the black birds to fly to a warmer climate. 

One afternoon the children were playing together in the yard when a large group of blackbirds landed in the trees nearby. After excited greetings and feasting on apples, they rose like a black cloud into the sky. The children watched them until they disappeared, and wondered if they would eventually return to raise a new family in the Spring.

 

Pack up all my care and woe, here I go singing low... Bye bye blackbird. Where somebody waits for me, sugar's sweet, so is she. Bye bye blackbird. No one here can love and understand me. Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me. Make my bed and light the light... I'll arrive late tonight. Blackbird bye bye.