A Family Affair

 

Since early spring, the black vultures that live in the shed next door have been showing all the signs that they had babies in there but it wasn't until yesterday that they brought them out. The baby is on the left. You can see all its white down feathers still stuck to its neck and back. Mama is on the right. I had thrown them out some chicken I had in the freezer that I had thawed overnight. It was too old for human consumption but it was a feast for the birds.

A face only a mother could love. 

I only saw one baby at first but it wasn't long until a second one showed up. Mom and Dad have no trouble coming up to door and knocking when they want something to eat or fresh water in their bowl and a while later all four of them were peering in. I wish I could have gotten a photo of that but as soon as they saw me they skedaddled. Mom and Dad are pretty cool with our presence but not when the babies are around. They don't want to teach those babies that humans are okay because as experience has shown...generally speaking, we are not. 

My poor babies were out there in all that smoke that's been blowing through the past few days. It was downright creepy on Friday. Between the heat and the smoke, cabin fever has become a thing. Fall can't come soon enough. 

The smoke gives me a sore throat so I didn't even go to the Farmer's Market yesterday morning. The Mister went alone. He brought back corn and tomatoes. 

There's not much I like about the summer but I do like fried green tomato season. The corn was good too. I'll make some corn chowder with the leftovers to go with the loaf of bread I'll be baking tomorrow. Betty White has made a comeback.