Sorry for the alliteration — I had first two “c” words and had to go with it.

I saw this handsome magpie one early morning a few weeks ago. It took me the longest time to figure out what it has in its bill. But its perch finally gave me the clue I needed — male pine cones! These are what produce the butt-tons of pollen for the more recognizable female cones you see at the top of the tree. I think the magpie is going to eat the pollen in the cones, but I have no idea how — will it eat the whole woody cone? or break the cones apart and dab up the pollen with its tongue? No idea.

Then there’s this crow who perched on the roof peak of our house. It took me only a few moments to figure out that it is carefully grasping a flower from our mock orange shrub in its beak. But that brought up many more questions: Why? Why not eat it? Why just one? Where is it taking it? The last question that popped into my head was perhaps the most charming: Who is it going to give it to?

Neither bird gave me any hint of answers to my questions. I guess I’ll have to live in frustrated ignorance.