The Old Lady grew up in a birdwatching family, and has watched birds now for nearly seven decades.

But during three months of isolation and social distancing she has learned to truly slow down, focus, and observe bird behaviors from first sight until they fly away.

This morning two boat-tailed grackles were on the ground under the feeder. One was obviously a juvenile although larger than the other, which was apparently the parent. The younger bird fluttered his feathers and squawked in a baby voice, begging to be fed. The parent casually picked up seeds and ate them, oblivious to the pleading.

Suddenly and decisively the parent stalked in front of the youngster, picked up a seed from the ground right under the begging beak, and stuffed the seed down the gaping gullet.

The juvenile, silenced at last, swallowed the seed. The parent turned its back and stalked away. The youngster looked at the departing back, then at the seeds around its feet, and began to peck and eat on its own.

“A teachable moment, taken in from beginning to end,” tweeted The Old Lady. “That’s why it’s called birdWATCHING, not birdLOOKING.”

LISTEN to The Old Lady!