Wonders never cease - An ode to Fathers

I know I am a little premature during the year in celebrating 'dadhood' since it was Mom's day yesterday.  But when I saw the two dedicated dads who were caringly feeding their fledglings, I decided to dedicate this little paragraph to them!

The Northern Cardinal and Downy Woodpecker are two of the many birds who have nested nearby.  Though we cannot actually see their nests, the presence of the young ones is obvious these days as they slowly venture out to explore. Usually it is the older birds who regularly visit our bird feeds.  

One particular cardinal who can be identified by an ash colored patch over his right eye, used to be a regular visitor along with his 'beloved'. 

Each and every time that they come to feed, usually within seconds of one of them landing on the grass, the 'gentleman' gives a little grain in her mouth, his way of showing his love!! It is such a endearing sight indeed!  The past few days we noticed that he came to feed in close intervals, and we zeroed in on the reason.  A young one was perched, safely at a distance, waiting for his dear dad to feed him.  And he was such a good 'non-fussy' eater too!  There he was patiently waiting for his food, and obediently took the soft masticated grains offered to him!!  Today he too ventured on his own in the 'adult' feeding area and was awkwardly pecking on the grains! 

 Then there was the downy baby, I saw him today for the first time when he was sprawled on our patio.  He was awkward, unable to hold his wings in place, they were plopped next to him.  In his childhood curiosity he tried a couple of times to enter through the closed glass doors, (not hurting himself I hope).  There again feeding on his favourite suet was his dad and this little baby was content to wait for daddy dear.

Indeed I felt very privileged to see this exhibition of 'matrubhaava'.(yeah though these were in fact 'pitarau')

We love you young ones and we hope that the grains that we are fortunate enough to feed you with will make you strong and magnificent just like your parents.