Housing Crisis Leaves Growing Bird Family Under Water

The housing crisis has now hit home for a local Robin family. Pat and Susan Robin are finding themselves suffering from nest arrest as they struggle to sell their single-room dwelling so they can move into more spacious quarters. Going with the age-old real estate mantra "location, location, location," the young couple chose the uniqueness of a bicycle tire upon which to build their humble abode. The location is not turning out to be as big a draw to home buyers as expected.

"We thought we'd start out small," Pat said. "You know, get a little starter nest going. After our first baby, we planned on getting a bigger place." The Robins thought they would have more time on their wings, but Mother Nature had something different in store for the now family of 6. "When I laid that first egg, I thought, great, it's over. We can finally relax for a while," said Susan. But the very next day, the new mom found herself laying another egg. Then another. And another.

Baby birds grow quickly and the Robins soon found themselves crammed in their single-room unit. "We have to take turns coming home," reports Pat. "Not because Robin parents work as a team to feed and incubate our young. We just all can't fit in the nest at the same time." The young parents report that the offspring are cranky--constantly fighting for space. A common complaint among the siblings is getting their tails yanked whenever anyone dares to move. "It is definitely time for a bigger place," adds Susan.

The Robins face a tough housing market, though, and until they are able to sell their current nest, it will be close quarters for the family. A year ago, they may have had a chance at breaking even on the Colonial style twig-and-thatch nest. The number of underwater dwellings has risen sharply for the bird community, with no end in sight. Top avian economists predict that if this trend does not end soon, the northern states will be left with a number of abandoned nests. Sources report that some families plan on walking away from their nests for cheaper housing in the South. We might see the effects of this flight en masse as soon as late September.
Pat and Susan Robin hope to avoid such measures. "We put a lot of work into this nest. Do you know how hard it is to weave twigs with a beak?" lamented Pat, who spent many nights after work building the family's home. The family hopes that the children will learn to fly and gain independence before they are forced to make the decision. "We like it here. We'd love for our grandkids to come back and visit us. Just visit, though. You know what they say about fish and guests," jokes the upbeat mother of four. Perhaps she will get her wish. We can only hope and pray.