On Alert

Taos, NM
I took this through a window into our courtyard. The story behind it is that this bird (and its companion) had built a nest under the portale roof. As has happened before, when the babies are born, the snakes nearby sense a delicious treat and approach. One, a black snake, was loitering near the woodpile and trying to climb it and then the wall to get to the nest. The adult birds would stand guard and, as the snake approached, would dive-bomb it with speed and shreaks to divert it. Happily, all survived.