What does a mother bird feel when she has spent a season preparing a fledgling to fly, only to watch it spread its wings and soar away, leaving behind an empty nest? Do birds feel that mix of pride and aching emptiness that human mothers do? An Empty Nest After years of single motherhood—endless adventures, soggy kisses, muddy handprints on my clothes, homeschooling, cheerleading practice and all the magical chaos that makes motherhood both challenging and rewarding—my little Duck (my name for my only child) finally left the nest. I knew this day would come, and I was excited to see her conquer life on her own terms. Yet after…