One of the great joys of a life dedicated to exploring the glorious beauty of creation is the occasional surprise of bewitching brilliance adorning one of its creatures. An extraordinary example of this is the Painted Bunting. A small songbird that is surprisingly easy to miss when perched in thick foliage, it stands out like a neon sign on a dark night once seen. It is as if Gods pallatte spilled onto it and, happy with the results, He said let it be.

I've seen Painted Bunting's in the wild from a distance and up close on feeders but never have I seen one so close, posing on a natural perch, until this week. I owe that experience to the great generosity of Dave and Tammy McQuade who invited me to see the ones in their yard.

The McQuade yard is an affirmation to how great a conservation-minded couple can go to support the needs of the wilderness with the wish to live in comfortable harmony within it. It is a sanctum where flora and fauna of the South Western Florida area can find shelter while still sating the desire of its human caretakers to observe their ways respectfully. I was appreciatively honored to receive an invitation to spend time with them at their warm and welcoming homestead and consider myself blessed to share the experience in photos and words with others.

We are the caretakers of a world that allows us the joy of experiencing His grand design. I humbly remain its scribe.
Shoot Date: April 1, 2019
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Manual ¹⁄₁₆₀ sec at f/5.6 0 EV
Lens: EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM @ 800 mm
ISO: 2500