"Food is an important part of a balanced diet." (--Fran Lebowitz

It seems strange to me that we're still seeing so many fledgling birds this late in the summer; nevertheless, they seem to be here in droves. Our bluebirds are busy in their house with a new clutch of eggs to help along.   I'm back home in North Carolina, and on our deck, yesterday,  there was a mockingbird family visiting.  

The parents have been busy educating their young to the ways of visiting the never-ending food supply on our deck.  

It never ceases to make me smile that the babies sometimes appear even larger than their parents, and while they certainly seem large enough to be capable of getting their own food, they helplessly flutter their wings, begging to be fed.  

The doting parents, ever patient, comply without so much as a sound.

Before you know it, though, the little guys will be assisting their own little ones.  

Last night, my camera finally bit the dust!  I suppose it's safe to say that I worked it to death.  God knows, I take millions of photos, so it was sure to happen at some point.  I'll be off to get myself a new one in a day or so, because I simply can't do without a camera to document the world around me...