Note-all pictures by Yu Rong Su from her garden, except the final picture.
In the first week of June, I was sweeping the patio in my backyard, when I saw what appeared to be scattered straw on the ground. At that time, I was just a little curious. Where did this dry grass come from? I swept up the pieces and soon forgot about it. But three days later, I was again on my backyard patio, and I saw several small twigs in the very same place as last time.
I looked up and there, on the wooden trellis where my grape vines were growing, I spotted a lovely bowl shaped bird’s nest, carefully resting on a corner of the trellis, between the green leaves. This nest was just two metres from my back door, and as I looked up in wonder, I then saw one of the architects - a big fat robin sitting proudly inside. The nest was so beautiful – perfectly round, made with twigs woven together and sealed with mud. I was amazed that this bird could be so capable, and I wanted to learn more.
My friend told me that it was the male bird who mostly sits on the nest. She explained that the male keeps the eggs safe and warm, while the Mother bird is busy eating to gain strength to lay more eggs. My friend also told me, “You must not touch the nest. You cannot even touch a single blade of grass. If you move it, the robins will never come back.” She also told me that robins are monogamous. They are particularly loyal birds.
All of these stories about robins were so interesting, that I then decided to pay tribute to the these birds.
So from the first day of my discovery, I was careful, and did not want to disturb the birds. However, I was really curious. I had a step-ladder, and I grabbed my camera. I wanted to see if there were eggs in the nest. I waited, and when I saw the Daddy robin fly away from the nest I quickly climbed up on the step-ladder and took a picture. But just as I got into position the robin flew back and perched on my neighbour’s fence, observing me. I took the photo and quickly, guiltily, stepped down and away from the nest. When I looked at the picture, I was so excited that I shouted “Aha – I got it”. And indeed – there, in my picture, I could clearly see three gorgeous blue robin eggs that were sitting in that nest.
I was so excited that I immediately showed the photo to my neighbour and then sent it out to a circle of my friends. This was the first time I had seen a robin’s egg. If I hadn't seen this picture with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe that these were really bird's eggs. These lovely blue eggs looked like an artist's creation! I told my friend that I was as excited as if our family was about to add a baby, and this made my friend laugh.
Su Yurong graduated from the Yunnan Academy of Arts, and went on to an illustrious career of over 20 years in the theatre. She acted in a great number of dramatic roles which brought her to audiences in theatres across China.
Yurong has also broadcast dozens of radio dramas and dozens of literary works on the Yunnan Radio Station. Su Yurong has won national awards for her work in Yunnan.
She now resides in Toronto, Canada.
Dave Page, Teacher, Writer, Community Literacy Educator
Dave Page has been working as a teacher and community leader for over thirty years. He has a passion for community based literacy work, has written many resources on teaching, and is an award winning story-teller.
Currently, Dave works with families in Toronto where he has worked in Early Literacy programs with Yu Rong Su. Dave first read Yu Rong’s story “A Nest In the Garden” in the summer of 2020, shortly after her back garden robin family had flown away.
“I was so moved by Yu Rong’s story because it is not only her record of the five weeks in which the robin family moved into her garden, but is also a story of the bond that occurred between neighbours who watched this particular family of robins. Yu Rong’s observations, her love of nature, and her wonderful sense of humour make this a story that will be enjoyed by readers all over the world.”
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/oxRYntRiMX2ZUHDoWrMTew
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