crushed me. This morning this planet is so loud with itself— its winds, its insects, its grackles and mourning doves— that I can hardly hear my own lamentations. This planet. All its grooved bark, all its sand of quartz and bones

and volcanic glass, all its creeping thistle lacing the yards with spiny purple. I’m trying to come down soft today. I’m trying to see this place even as I’m walking through it.

This young coyote was playing around in the dirt, digging and jumping around until he finally found the prize- a tissue or something 😂. It was almost dark, so a little challenging getting the shots. Los Angeles County, June 2026.

Gouldian Finch (Chloebia gouldiae), family Estrildidae, order Passeriformes, eastern Kimberley, Western Australia

Blue-crowned Ifrit (Ifrita kowaldi), male, family Ifritidae, order Passeriformes, Papua New Guinea

POISONOUS.

This bird has batrachotoxin in its skin and feathers. (Most likely obtained from consuming Choresine beetles.)