Tiny Eight

In keeping with TinyTuesday this week, I thought I'd give you 8 tiny little Black-capped Chickadees, sheltering in place. (For context, the inside dimensions of the box are 5 inches x 5 inches.)  They are approximately 10 days old and already mostly feathered.  They've still got some growing to do, but they should fledge within a week.  I have been putting out meal worms for Mom and Dad to supplement what they are able to catch in the trees.  Eight is a large brood and I figure they can use the extra help.  This is just a quick phone shot taken from the top opening of the box.  I can never see what I'm doing since the box is above eye-level, so I just click a few times and hope for the best.  

I was up and out early this morning, off on a nice 3 mile hike - just me and my D850.  Had a really nice walk and only encountered a couple of other people (none wearing masks, alas).  One bit of rather sad news from the walk has to do with the swan family I blipped back on May 5 with their four tiny cygnets.  When I passed the area today, there was one lone swan in the water who appeared to be quite listless; when I returned, the same swan was standing in the nest, all alone.  I will confess that I cried.  I suspect that the other parent was probably killed trying to defend the cygnets.  It feels unbearably sad to me right at this time.  But I also know that this is nature.  There are bald eagles and owls nesting in the same area; there are huge snapping turtles in the pond; there are raccoons and bear in the area.  Things happen.  

Speaking of bears...before I left this morning, Hubs called me to the front window where we saw an enormous black bear wandering into the woods across the Lane.  I'd put it at at least 400 pounds.  Hubs said he saw a second smaller bear about an hour later.  Yikes.  

Back at home, I found some things around the yard to celebrate, like the fact that these 8 chickadee babies appear healthy.  That there are now 4 perfect blue eggs in the bluebird box.  That I think a pair of orioles may be setting up territory nearby for the first time ever.  And that my family is safe and healthy.   

After lunch, Hubs and I ventured to Lowes (me wearing a new very fashionable mask that I just received today) and then to Starbucks.  Nice to get out for a bit of a drive.  

Back at home, I spotted my first Indigo Bunting of the year in the yard, but it was feeding on the lawn which really didn't make for a very nice photo.

Today was the day I was meant to be flying to Costa Rica to meet up with fellow blip-mates Osuzanna and HillyBlips.  We are hoping to do the trip next May, which seems so very far away right now.

Be safe, people - social distance, masks when needed, kindness always.

xo
Debbi