Compassion flowed in abundance recently after nesting ospreys on the Walsingham Bridge at Indian Rocks Beach suddenly were left homeless due to human intervention. Compassionate action came late, but not too late to facilitate a happy ending. That almost was not the case.
After watching the birds diligently build their nest, I was among those whose heart ached on Jan. 7 as I drove across the bridge and spotted a guy up in a bucket tossing the nest into his truck piece by piece. It was evident to me that this contractor, who had been hired by the Florida Department of Transportation, was not going to preserve the nest for relocation, which, as it turned out, was the case.
Right about now I’m sure someone is saying, “So what? They’re just birds. They’ll find somewhere else to go.”
That kind of thinking always disturbs me. There are times when people have the opportunity to show compassion not only toward other people, but also to the animals with which we share this planet, and take action whenever we can. I love it when I see someone taking the time to stop their car, pull over to the side of the road and rescue a turtle as it slowly makes its way across, facing certain death if left to its own devices. My faith in mankind is preserved.
The FDOT thought that removing the osprey nest from the bridge was the end of that story. But as nature would have it, though the contractor had placed vertical spikes along the top of the bridge light to prevent the birds from rebuilding their home, they did so anyway in the exact same spot. The instincts of these soon-to-be-new-parents were so strong that they rebuilt it in just a few days, which really surprised the FDOT, or so a spokesman for the department told me. Not surprised at all, I’m sure, was the Clearwater Audubon Society and others who appreciate that the forces of nature are wondrously strong and not to be denied. I recall a commercial many years back in which the actress proclaimed: “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.”
It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature, either.
For the second time the osprey nest was removed by the FDOT on Jan. 21, only this time the workers preserved the nest, and due to the compassionate intervention of several people, the next day the ospreys found themselves with a nifty, man-made home built very close to their original spot. That’s the short version of what happened.
The nesting pair immediately set up housekeeping. Cheers of joy rang out among the spectators and nest-building participants on hand as the saga came full circle. It felt as if nature was back in balance.
I’m no expert on human nature, but I suspect that compassion is something we learn at a very young age and more than likely by example. Maybe it’s genetic, but whatever the origin, compassion just might be the trait I most admire in people. Sure, it’s great to be smart, funny, beautiful or successful, but a caring heart is what really matters – even when it’s just a bird or turtle that’s at stake.
Why care? Because when people care and choose to do the right thing, for that moment in time the world is a better place.
chary Southmayd is editor of the Belleair and Beach Bee.
