It is quite thrilling when I encounter a species that I have never seen before. These are a pair of black-crowned night herons that I came across while looking for bald eagles on Memorial Day. I found them perched about 15 feet above a small stream that was chock full of Alewife fish.

Throughout the wild kingdom, parents will risk everything to protect their young. Pictured here are a pair of tiny swallows trying to chase off a mature bald eagle in an effort to keep him away from their nest. Eventually, their efforts paid off and the eagle decided to look for a more peaceful perch.