Despite the remarkable beauty that surrounds us in nature, there is always the reminder that within it itself is cruelty, and misfortune.

This afternoon I was enjoying the sparrows that frequent the bird feeder in my backyard, and this one fluttered in for a meal. From the looks of it (and judging by its size), it appeared to do okay scooping seed up with its mandible (lower jaw), but from what I could tell, it did not have an upper jaw (or maxilla), which left my a bit stymied, and sad. One wonders what happened to this guy, to leave it with half a beak somehow.

Eat on, bird. Eat on, and live on.