Contradicting Darwin
Bozeman, Montana
2019

I certainly believe that Darwin’s theory of natural selection (or survival of the fittest as some would say) is the main driver of evolution. But some species sure seem to defy that rule, robins being a case in point.

Robins seem to want to build their nests in places with obvious limited chances for success. We had one build a nest in a young fir tree on a branch less than two feet above the ground–about nose high on a curious dog or hungry coyote.

The robin’s nest in this photo was built on the door frame just above our front door while we were in Ireland earlier this summer. When our neighbor Tom stopped by to check on the  house one day, he did not see the nest until he opened the storm door and the nest came sailing down beside him. Amazingly it landed right side up and the eggs did not break.  Not knowing what else to do, Tom set the nest on the bench next to the door and left it, where it remained until we got home.

Robins are prolific next builders and egg layers, raising as many as 12 healthy babies a year. So I guess what they lack in smarts, they make up in sheer numbers.

Patriot’s Dream #47
Livingston, Montana
2019

Could Be Anything
Bozeman, Montana
2019

I saw this smashed cone from a fir tree on the street where I was walking the other day. I was intrigued by the shape so I brought it home, photographed it, and added a background to the image.

Patriot’s Dream #46
Livingston, Montana
2019

Patriot’s Dream #45
Livingston, Montana
2019

Variety Pack
Shanghai, China
2018

Bamboo Thicket
Shanghai, China
2018

Two Left
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
2019

Qixia Temple
Nanjing, China
2018

The Old Home Place
Bozeman, Montana
2019

In my commentary to the POTDs I will sometimes refer to our “mountain house” or our “cabin” or maybe even just our house, but it occurred to me that that doesn’t mean anything to a lot of you. So here’s a shot of the place. We designed and built it ourselves starting in 1982 and lived there full time for a number of years in two different stretches before and after jobs elsewhere. Eventually I got tired of clearing snow in the winter (always at least a half mile of road, sometimes as much as 1.5 miles depending on who else was working on the road down below us). Now we have a house in town as well.