Thank you all for your comments and e-mails in response to my last post. It certainly helped to know you all are out there.

Since all of my recent posts have been about death, let’s liven things up with today’s discovery:

I opened the bluebird box and it appears that Mr. and Mrs. have decided to stay. The obnoxious starlings seem to have lost that battle, and I’m seeing the bluebird pair all about the property as they get ready for their family. And the deceased guineas’ feathers are padding the nest. I couldn’t think of a better use for them. It’s a small consolation that means a lot right now.