Litter with a Story To Tell

Pileated Woodpecker chicks and parent,

South Burlington, VT,

June 2016

I was photographing a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly settling occasionally on flowers in our backyard.

The butterfly flew to a large flowering bush at the edge of a wooded embankment so I followed it there.

All through this time I was hearing what I had thought was chipmunk chirping. While watching a most obliging butterfly for about ten minutes, I kept looking up into the trees for the owner making so many chirping noises. Over the previous week or so I had also heard the cry of a Pileated Woodpecker much more frequently than usual; only there was no drilling into a tree sound. Now as I peered up finally spotting the source of the chirping, I put it all together. The sounds were coming from the vicinity of one of two large holes on a stag,

one over the other. Out of the lower hole was the first one,

then two Pileated Woodpecker nestlings.

Not long after, one of the parents began crying out, moving cautiously closer and closer and finally arriving at the nest. The adult shortly thereafter fed the eager nestlings.

Mama, where are you?

First I looked down,

then I looked up.

I even looked up into the second floor.

Mama, where are you? We are HUNGRY.

OH, and did we mention that we are ADORABLE too.

Finally, Dad arrives with lunch.
(On Father's Day no less. )

The following images were taken on 6/23.

Bernie publishes short stories and photos reflecting Vermont's values of Green and Clean and Community. He urges us all to, pick up litter in order to protect our water, wildlife, and human health.

Bernie resides in SB, Vermont.

More Pileated photos:

March 2015 Adult Pileated photos

Memorial Day Celebration Event, South Burlington Veterans Park, May 27, 2016.

Presentation of Colors
Invocation
Maj General Stephen Cray
Placing of Wreath
SBHS Chamber Singers
Event sponsored by Veterans Memorial Committee

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces.^[1] The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May,^[2] originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois, established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.^[3] By the 20th century, competing Union and Confederate holiday traditions, celebrated on different days, had merged, and Memorial Day eventually extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service.~Wikipedia

"Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty.

~M. Paquette

Dick Boera, Essex, VT.
WWII veteran.

Donald Johnstone Ph.D., long-time resident of South Burlington.
Served in Europe during WWII.

Memorial Day. A time of remembrance of those who gave all for their country. A time more, I think, of mourning than celebration.

A time to reflect and remember the extreme cost of war.

There must be a better way - Will we elevate the cost of soldiers (and civilians) lives over the (often false) sense that war will resolve a (perceived or real) evil?

~Bernie