Bird School

Each morning, Mr & Mrs Bluebird -- of Birdbox-on-the-Dam, Lake Cheston, Sewanee -- instruct their four offspring in the fine arts & sciences of Aerial Acrobatics, Camouflage, Food Acquisition, Threat Recognition, Escape Readiness, Scouting Poses, and countless other duties assumed by Resident Bluebirds of the Domain.

And I get to watch because I arrive early just after First Flutter.

This morning, two juveniles deserved special instruction, including mild reprimanding (Mr Bluebird fluttered down to thrash one fledgling several times to force him to fly to a safer, more shadowed branch) and an exemplary example of helicopter-parenting (Full bridge exposure, O Best Beloved, may not be wise).

As for Charm School?  These birds have already earned A Levels!