Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, November 6, 2023
I usually go birding with my folks in the spring on a bluebird trail that is not too far from where they live. The bluebird trail consists of fences for cattle that line both sides of the road. Someone has placed bird boxes at intervals on both sides of the road. This is a driving trail so we usually go fairly slowly (it’s not a busy road) and pull over whenever we see a flash of blue.
This is kind of a case of whichever birds get there first, get first choice in the real estate department. We generally find either western bluebirds, mountain bluebirds (more rare) or tree swallows (pictured).
We’re usually disappointed if we only see tree swallows as we are really searching for bluebirds – especially mountain bluebirds. I found this tree swallow where I least expected to see one (at Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf in California while I was looking for sea otters).
As you can see, the tree swallow is a very beautiful bird in its own right. Sometimes we don’t really appreciate what is right in front of us.
If you’ve read my photo parables for any length of time, you know I love the “don’t worry” verses in Matthew 6. They talk about how God looks after the birds (and don’t say that he looks after some kinds more than others)! They also talk about how much more God values us.
“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
Matthew 6:26-27 NIV