+ 1 🙂

Yeah, that all makes sense. It’s probably a combination of factors working together. It makes sense for evolution to have favoured those who are best at looking after their offspring, whatever that takes.

That photo of the blue bonnets reminds me of some of Stephen Barnard’s saturated landscapes.

The dog’s expression who was stuck with the wee bed is priceless.

Way to go Arnold! That was a powerful speech, spoken from authority. We need more ‘normal’ republicans…or maybe not.

Re. babies being cute, have you heard of “baby schema”? Here’s the definition; it makes sense to me.

Ethologist Konrad Lorenz proposed that baby schema (‘Kindchenschema’) is a set of infantile physical features such as the large head, round face and big eyes that is perceived as cute and motivates caretaking behavior in other individuals, with the evolutionary function of enhancing offspring survival.

But baby crabs don’t have big heads, eyes or a round face, so there’s something else going on too. I think the innocence and helplessness of baby creatures fosters empathy and a need to protect and shelter.

Baby snakes look just like adults, but a few days ago I saw a Robin pick up a “worm” and drop it after the worm bit at it. As I got close, I realized it was a baby garter snake about 4″ long. I thought awwww, how cute, just because it was small, even though it didn’t have any “baby” features. So why are baby snakes cute? Just my two pennies…it’s a good question, and I’ve often pondered it.

I heard that too. There are apparently now companies that specialize in making reed bundles, and professional thatchers are making a comeback.

Cheers Robert.

You cynic you! 😀

Cheers Steven. When I saw the words on the tweet before I watched it, I assumed it would be an exaggeration, but, as you say, there’s clearly a lot more going on in the mother’s mind.

Maybe you’re right.
Even so it was devastatingly ‘kawaii’ (‘cute’ is the English equivalent, but it doesn’t seem quite right).