Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Surrogate or Else

There are studies of one strange bird.
The female cowbird lays her eggs.
Maternal instincts should be stirred.
But on mothering she reneges.
She relocates her eggs instead
Into another nest she picks,
For some shocked bird to go ahead
And care for the entire eggs mix.
Different species are the hosts.
They know that something must be wrong.
Away the mama cowbird coasts.
Why do other birds go along?

The host birds care for their young guests,
Or Mom cowbird will trash their nests.