They are separated by 3,000 miles, the bird in Southern California and the frog in Connecticut. Make no mistake, though. The bird is not happy. The frog is having a great time. The bird is a snowy egret, and now both of its wings have shot up. There was probably a fish in its sights a split second earlier, and then in a blink a big wave crashes down. Saved, at least for the moment, the fish swims away, the hungry bird left to wonder how millions of years of instinct disappeared — along with lunch. The bird now angrily strolls away from the ocean’s edge. It needs to regroup. There are, as everyone knows, other fish in the sea. Still, the bird is angry with itself. And a bit embarrassed. Is the ocean supposed to startle a bird like this? Finally he takes a quick look around. Did this happen to any other egrets? Then there’s the frog. Its left front leg is wrapped around a small branch. His right front leg hangs freely in front of him. Both of his hi...
