Kingbirds

Adult Eastern kingbird

Baby kingbird

Three baby kingbirds [the fourth is on a higher branch]

Trying his wings!

Mom feeding baby #4

Our pastor Nancy, asks us how we have seen God in our lives. As a bird watcher and outdoor person living in western Montana, the answer for me is obvious.....just look around, examples are everywhere.

We enjoy our large picture windows that face the mountains on both sides of our house but one evening, when there was a loud thump on a window, I knew a bird had hit. The bird on the ground was an Eastern kingbird that was very stunned. We have one pair that has nested in one of the trees on an island in our pond every year since we have lived here, and this bird was one of them. I immediately started praying for this bird. Dan picked him up and set him on a patio table, and I kept watch. His breathing was labored and his mouth was open. Not a good sign. After a time he tried to stand up but fell over. After 3 hours, he did not look much better and when I went to bed, I was sure he would be dead by morning. Amazingly, in the morning, he was gone. I said a prayer of thanks.

Today, after seeing the pair around the pond and in the tree for the last few weeks, we saw 4 baby kingbirds testing their wings and learning to fly. Obviously the injured bird made a full recovery. I was thrilled and said another prayer of thanks. Talk about an example of the presence of God!