| General Fiction posted January 30, 2025 |
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The life or death struggle of birds.
A Cardinal in the Snow
by papa55mike
A winter's day Contest Winner
The wind-driven flakes pile up on every surface as bitter northern gale crashes against the house. This dreary day is unfit for man or beast, but the birds will soon come.
Suddenly, a splash of vivid red darts through the cascading snowflakes. The burning bush has shed its brilliant crimson leaves, and a tuft of snow falls as a Cardinal lands on a branch. His striking red feathers radiate throughout the winter scene.
Many small eyes have spotted the cracked corn, sunflowers, and mallow scattered on the ground, drawing in hungry mouths. For a bird to stay warm, it must digest food. But the male Cardinal is always first in line. The black mask on his face marks him as a bandit for the freely given seeds.
The alpha Cardinal is followed by a subordinate, his mate, and other small sparrows, forming the pecking order for the day. Soon, the juncos, towhees, titmice, and chickadees will arrive to scrap and spar.
With great delight, I watch the grand waltz of life from a steamy window. A warm cup of coffee enhances the joy of watching my friends gather to eat. Even on cold, wintry days, the Lord richly blesses everything.
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Writing Prompt Write a 200 word story /fiction about an event/incident & happy ending that occurred on a winter's day. Create a wintry scene & suspense! Use your own title if you wish. |
A winter's day Contest Winner |
For many species of birds, digesting food to create warmth can be a life-or-death situation.
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