Reproduction K’Nex MP5A2, built by Akiva, designed by Blue Mullet,

instructions available on Instructables.

Akiva inserts the removable clip—

—and aims.

*   *   *

Meanwhile, out back, Abigail spent the winter all cooped up. She decided that as long as she was cooped up, she might as well hatch some babies. She sat and she sat and she sat and she sat! January is a poor time for hatching eggs in Quebec. February is a poor time for hatching eggs in Quebec. March is not such a bad time for hatching eggs, but Abigail had no mate! I put a personal ad in the local FB page: single broody duck seeks fertile eggs. We were able to trade eight infertile eggs for eight fertile eggs over a period of a few days. Twenty-six days later, the eggs began to hatch, resulting, ultimately, in five live chicks.

Outside the coop, all the birds and beasts of the yard gather around Iris.

And as they gather for their mealworm treats,

she tells her furred and feathered following

fables of their ancient ancestors—

the times they flew through jungles

and migrated vast distances

and roamed the wild woods and plains in search of prey.