I was sitting under myrtle and California lilac trees in my front yard. When I looked up, I just had to capture this image of pink clouds against a blue sky. From this location, it is just a ten-minute walk to the Pacific coast in Washington State, USA.
I witnessed a sad yet inspiring goodbye gathering. I noticed a bird on our
patio. She didn’t seem to have much energy, but she was eating seeds that were
lying on the ground. I left to return to my computer to work. When I check in on
the bird later, she looked even weaker than before. She managed to fly a little
way, but she fell when she tried to land on a nearby wire fence.
Several other birds of the same type arrived. There were at least six
individuals. They chirped as they circled the dying bird. The poor thing kept
trying to fly, but she just flopped around on the ground. At one point, she
rolled onto her side. After a few twitches, she rolled over so her back was
facing upward. She never moved again.
The other birds kept a vigil around her after she passed, but they were
quiet now. After about ten minutes, they began flying away one by one. After
that, a few birds came and went, but soon, the yard grew still.
The bird in the picture is not the one who died, but it is one of her kind.
We often think of such rituals as an exclusively human thing, but this was
one example of many where members of other species have their own ways of
saying goodbye to a loved one.
Rest in peace, little angel.
I have several pictures of the sky. In this one, a blue sky forms a backdrop for pink dogwood blossoms.
My better-half took this garden photo a few weeks ago. The setting was an urban garden in Portland, OR, USA.
A few weeks back, we had oddly cold weather. This colorful bird visited our feeder and then sat on the patio. He had his feathers fluffed out to ward off the chill.
In dim dawn, an evil does creep,
Spawned from hell that rests so deep.
In light of day, are dreadful sights,
Our great citizens have lost their rights.
America cries.
Iniquity now blights our shore,
The bell of freedom chimes no more.
Liberty’s song has lost its tune,
Has this nation met its doom?
America cries.
Proud Harbor Lady, once so strong,
Wonders how we went so wrong.
With frail hand, she caps her torch,
Now darkness hangs upon the port.
America cries.
Yet, we know from whence the terror came,
Will redemption be in vain?
In deep of night, a trumpet blew,
Power given to the chosen few.
America cries.
Is that rumble the sound of thunder,
Or ideals torn asunder?
In the street, spreads rampant fear,
As we lose our rights so dear.
America cries.
Sing no more, sweet nation’s choir,
For all our lands are on fire.
As dread extends from shore to shore,
The laws of justice rule no more.
America cries.
~ C. N. Sky ~
Meet the squirrel who lives in the Olympic National Forest in Washington State, USA. I took his picture as he stared down at me.
I took this picture while hiking along the coast of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, USA. My better-half and our son visited there following the death of our daughter, Byelka, in June of 2015.
