Butterfly Kisses

This butterfly must have recognized this as a child who loves flying creatures. Owls, bats, juncos- even starlings- all flying things deserve to be fed, admired, and studied. She caught a glimpse of a crow carrying nesting materials this afternoon and ran inside to write it down. The great blue heron, the chickadee and the bald eagle have earned their spots in her life list book. Everything but flies and bees are to admired and encouraged.

She deserves a butterfly kiss.

photo credit: Aunt Dana

Serendipity

I took a walk this morning in a small town in Central Oregon. The town was still sleeping, but I shared the field with a couple coveys of quail. As I skirted the middle school baseball field, I saw a bird perched atop the cage behind home plate. From a distance, I could tell it was a large bird, the size of a vulture or perhaps an eagle. When I got close enough to make out its shape, it decided to give me a better look.

With wingspan as grand as a bald eagle's, the giant black and white osprey soared right past and landed on its nest at the peak of a light pole.

I've never kept a life list, but I might be tempted to start.