Happy Hatch-day, little fellow!

This little black skimmer chick hatched yesterday morning on Daytona Beach. These birds are normally colonial nesters but last year a male and female nested alone in this exact same area, so biologists are guessing that this little guy’s mom and dad may well be that same couple. I guess they liked the solitary nesting on Daytona Beach and returned for another visit. As you can see his parent tosses away his shell as this brand new little chick looks on.

This area of the beach has been cordoned off to protect the feathered family until the chicks are grown and the family moves on.

Now, wasn’t that nicer than thinking about the ills of the world today?

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Thanks to the folks at FreeLance Images for taking the photos and sending them to Mr. Pop.