Mark of the beast

We'd been having Spring weather here, then suddenly on Tuesday we had snow. On the hill where I live I found this imprint in the white stuff:

It looked like a mark made by Freddy Krueger's glove--if Freddy was a midget! I had no idea what made it. Then I discovered the answer, when I saw another print like it being made nearby. It's the impression of a crow's wing!

We have many ravens here, and when they loudly get into my garbage on trash day, they get ME ravin' ! But this interesting image helps make up for that.

Giving the awards the bird

Forget the Rondo Award honorees. (wink, wink) From the Associated Press today comes this news about a truly award-worthy character-- a parrot named Willie:

DENVER – A parrot that alerted his owner about a baby who was choking was recognized as a hero by the Red Cross. Willie the parrot was given the Animal Lifesaver Award during the "Breakfast of Champions" event attended by Gov. Bill Ritter and Mayor John Hickenlooper.

Willie received the award Friday for his actions in November, when he and owner Megan Howard were baby-sitting a toddler. Willie repeatedly yelled "Mama, baby" when Howard went to the bathroom and the toddler started to choke on her breakfast.

Howard saved the baby by performing the Heimlich maneuver but she said Willie "is the real hero."