A good friend of mine sent me these pictures recently. The content is the sort that just really gets to me, the kind of thing that is so simple that it amazes me. I love when nature and cities find a way to coexist, but this example is so special – in part because it’s about relationship. My friend, Karen K, went to Japan in the spring and then returned again a short while later. On her initial visit she saw these swallows nesting in the eaves of a building.
On the next trip the eggs had hatched and she was able to take another picture.
And the amazing part — well look at the next pictures. The shop keepers had hung umbrellas from the eaves so if the baby birds fell out they would be caught by the umbrella and be safe. Now, I love birds and I have come across many tragic instances where a bird fell out of a nest and met its end. And I never would have thought of this beautiful and simple solution. Love it.
Thanks Karen, for the story and the pictures!
August 27, 2009 at 18:18
Such a rare pictures, it is not everyday we can see umbrella shop with birds!
August 27, 2009 at 21:57
Thank you for the lovely post. The umbrellas are a beautiful idea.
August 29, 2009 at 19:38
Red Studio: I was hoping you would see this post because I knew you’d love it! Thanks for the tweet!
November 16, 2009 at 23:38
[...] today from the ever-so-talented Karen K. Yes, this is the same Karen K who took the pictures of the swallows in Japan that are so beautiful. Hopefully you’ll be seeing her around here more often! This post is a [...]
March 6, 2010 at 10:53
[...] machines | Leave a Comment My friend Karen K who wrote this blog entry and took these amazing photos, recently told me about how vending machines were being used by farmers in Europe to sell their [...]