by Alice Kinerk

Cowbirds are the assholes of the feathered world.

They lay their eggs in the nests of others and fly away to leave the hard work to someone else. If by chance the alien egg is found and pushed out, the cowbird mommy returns to destroy all other eggs in that nest.

Or if it hatches, the young cowbird will often grow faster than its nestmates, outcompeting them for food and leaving them to die.

What this proves I do not know. Nature is beautiful or something.

Twelve years ago, Alice Kinerk planted bamboo in her front yard, despite neighbors who claimed she’d regret it once it grew out of control. It has grown out of control, but she hasn’t regretted it yet.