Into the Darkness

Of the many red nosed lies told, none--surely--were so bold as to deserve such a beak: so red, so prominent. The sideways monument to the Washington Monument is an ocean kayak that has made beach in a bird's head. All manner of absurdity abounds in the explanation. As we are free to be jealous of the gorgeous bird, so are we free to mockup its reason-for-being.

Maybe the beak is an anchor, meant to keep the Kingfisher grounded (all salt of the earth and such). Maybe the beak is simply a beacon that will soon activate--freeing animal kind from its bounds.

Taken: 03/11/2011 in Bharatpur National Park, India. This White Breasted Kingfisher was one of the day's last sights, as dusk was siphoning light from my lens. Crouching behind a bench and with the eager support  from the whole group to "get him" I did my best to capture the majestic little bird. The majesty, like with so many birds, is not wholly obvious to the creature itself. He posed long enough for us to shy onto him, confirm that we got a good picture, and discuss his coat. Then he was into the darkness, hoping his red beak would guide him.