The next four months were a dance of getting to know our new friends as they feverishly built their nest within inches of our open window.

Paco and Juanita

Daniel Milnor

As the pandemic began my wife and I moved into a property ten minutes outside of town. Just far enough out to have nature lapping at the door. Outside the bedroom window two Woodhouse's scrub jays (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) decided to make a home. We named them Paco and Juanita.

The next four months were a dance of getting to know our new friends as they feverishly built their nest within inches of our open window. If I placed my yoga mat too close Juanita would land and squawk until I moved. If I made noise or opened the gate to quickly I would hear about it. Soon the babies were born and the flight training began.

One day junior, sex unknown, took a hard right and hit the front window, knocking himself/herself out and falling between several sections of plywood. I heard Juanita screaming and went to investigate. She landed at my feet and directed me to the fallen offspring. Using artificial limbs and extreme care I saved the little creature and all was well. Even now, as winter approaches, the pair return at least once a month. They sit on the adobe wall and wait for me to come to the window.

Author bio: Daniel is a photographer, Media Director and Blurb’s “Creative Evangelist.”

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA