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Neil Barker's avatar

Excellent post and I like your short story about the Red-winged Blackbird. The males have recently returned here in Ottawa from warmer areas down south and are staking claims to territory. I love the varied tones and notes they sing calling out. The females should be arriving in the next few weeks as well. Spring nearly here!

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Daisy Anne's avatar

Yes they were at the feeder last week! The Red winged blackbirds travel with the grackles in a large flock, so the bird feeders were getting raided lol. They'll probably be sticking around until their autumn migration.

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Jan M. Alexander's avatar

A wonderful post. I love blackbirds, that little flash of red on their wings. And I love your story! I think it could also be a picture book for kids, if you change the ending (I'm guessing). Your words are lovely!

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Daisy Anne's avatar

Thank you, Jan! I have lots of ideas for children’s picture books... I just need to take some illustration classes first 😉

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Jan M. Alexander's avatar

Awesome! Actually, you don't (unless you want to illustrate your own books). The publishers will match your story with an illustrator. (I used to work in publishing.) If you plan to self-publish, you could hire someone to illustrate them. Again, it just depends if you want to do everything yourself. Good luck! <3

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Daisy Anne's avatar

That’s true, I guess I just want a reason to become more artistic 😊 I’ve always admired illustrators, and it would feel amazing to write and draw my own story and fully share the vision in my mind. We’ll see how it goes!

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Jan M. Alexander's avatar

I totally get that. There's something so intimate about illustrating your own words. Enjoy the process!

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Daisy Anne's avatar

Thanks Jan, I definitely will! 💛

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Jessica L Chipps Author's avatar

I enjoyed the song about and the song of the redwing blackbird and your little story. We have a lot of them around my home, in the meadows and creek bottoms. I was just thinking the other day that I need to put the redwing blackbird into my stories.

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Daisy Anne's avatar

Thank you, Jessica! Oh, that’s very serendipitous -- I’m glad my entry was so timely 😄

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Jennie Marie Ryan's avatar

What a lovely song! I've never heard that one before.

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jomarcre's avatar

To tease out apathy caused me to laugh out loud in the hotel lobby! Absolutely right on target to expose this as a societal issue. Perhaps it is time for the middle to awaken and flood the world with a grand dose of empathy!? Love the story and of course the delightful birds. insightful and inspiring.

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