A mail carrier once told me that he can tell how crazy a person is by how many bumper stickers they have on their car.

Recently, I saw a bumper sticker that read, “I break for interesting cloud formations”.  I thought, that’s not crazy. I would like to know this guy. Then, I thought maybe he is just  a meteorologist. That’s not a bad thing, I would just prefer to think the guy who was inspired to have this as his only statement to the traffic world is pondering “interesting clouds” for their beauty, not their weather potential. Is he a stop-and-smell-the-roses type? Or a storm prognosticator? I’ll never know, so what.

This one looks like Elliot, in the original "Pete's Dragon".

I don’t have a single bumper sticker on my car, so I’m completely sane. Or maybe I just haven’t distilled my life’s credo down to bumper sticker pithiness. 

I do know one thing that I will break for….baby quail!

As a photographer, I would love it if my life was such that I could break for every photo op that comes my way….including interesting cloud formations.

Time is not always on my side in this regard, and I miss many opportunities for photographic greatness. 

But, no matter what time it is, or where I’m going, or why, I will stop to let baby quail cross the road. And, not just to take their picture. I just can’t bear the thought of squishing them.  The better question is why do quail insist on putting their newly hatched puffs of wonderfulness in the road? (The philosophical equivalent of “Why did the chicken cross the road?”.)

Most young lives, wildlife or domestic, are irresistibly cute.  Is it the fluff of new fur, the eyes to head to body ratio? Their tiny stature? The way they move? Count me in for all of it! Baby animals are the best!

I have been fortunate, in that over my many years, I’ve taken some fun photos of many baby animals. The experience is the reward, not necessarily the finished photo.
Grey Fox kits

Polar Bear Cubs in ANWR Coyote pup with Adult coyote pup Coyote Pup

Birds?

Baby ducks- adorable! Eaglets and owlets? Not so much. There is almost an inverse relationship here. The more majestic the bird, the more pitiful looking the hatchling. Burrowing Owl with Owlet

I have watched quail hatch, and they are out-of-the-egg instantly cute, cute, cute! And remarkably independent.  If you listen closely, these are all saying Happy Birthday!

For me, they don’t seem to go through that awkward teenage phase either. As their little top-knot takes shape it just adds to their spunk. John Travolta’s pompadour starter kit.  They strut in the streets with every bit of attitude with the song “Stayin’ Alive” as their soundtrack.  

Just try and get that out of your head now! The vivid imagery and ear worm hypnotic of a juvenile punk quail strutting his stuff to “Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive…..”

You’re welcome!