In Pursuit of Hand-feeding the Red-breasted Nuthatch 

It's rare to see Red-breasted Nuthatches in south central Indiana, and rarer still to have one land beside me while I filled the sunflower-seed feeder! I quickly assumed this was another nudge, a "gift...from above" like the "Carolina Wrens Soothe Broken Heart," to help me recover from the devastating loss of my wonderful wife. Inspired also by the handiwork of Lesley the Bird Nerd (aka "the bird whisperer"), I decided to try. It appeared hopeless, as well as humorous, at first. But I discovered "the Pursuit IS Happiness," and persistence does pay off!