Birds of Paradise

One afternoon we ventured south just past Tacoma, specifically to hike through the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.

We were on the trails early, but by the time we headed out the crowds had shown up –– after all, it was a beautiful sunny day in Washington State. And it wasn't only families and cub scouts –– the delta was teaming with birders.

Consider this: a gaggle of REI outfitted birders were scurrying down boardwalks, clutching tripods at least half their height, top heavy with binoculars, cameras and lenses –– desperately trying to photograph a red tailed hawk, poised to strike a small rodent burrowing through the tangle of brush on the river's edge.

But, while they were still en route to the perfect vantage point, the hawk rises up and out of an ancient cottonwood, swiftly diving, swooping and finally leveling off to skim just above their heads –– breaking through the fray of birders he turned out towards the open water, adrift on a soft murmur of air -- they hardly realized he was horizon bound until he had silently passed over their heads.

No vermin for the hawk. No photograph for the birders. Ah, nature.
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We also did a quick tour of the Museum of Glass -- brought to us by the incredible Dale Chiluly. What have you produced lately?