Flames Along The Dry Field
The mother duck spreads both wings wide over six pale eggs resting in a shallow ring of dry straw.
Smoke plumes rise in gray columns across the open field as orange flames crawl through the dry grass.
She opens her beak and lets out sharp calls, keeping her body pressed tightly against the clutch.
Her brown and tan feathers ruffle in the warm air blowing across the scorched ground.
A capuchin monkey steps onto a low tree branch directly above the smoke line.
He grips the rough bark with dark fingers and looks down at the bird guarding the nest.
An Unexpected Approach
The monkey drops from the branch onto the cracked dirt and lowers his posture.
He crawls forward at an even pace, stopping just inches from the edge of the straw bed.
The duck holds her wings outward, tracking his face as he extends two open palms toward her.
Instead of snatching, the monkey reaches into a nearby patch of greenery and returns with wide leaves.
He spreads the green leaves flat across the ground next to the eggs.
Using both hands, he lifts the first egg from the straw and gently places it onto the leaf surface.
The duck remains still, shifting her feet slightly as each egg is transferred into the bundle.
Moving Toward Water
The monkey gathers the edges of the green leaves together, forming a deep bowl around the eggs.
He lifts the bundle against his chest and stands on his hind legs.
The duck steps out of the empty nest and immediately falls into stride beside him.
They walk down a narrow dirt trail leading away from the fire and toward a body of water.
The monkey keeps both arms wrapped tightly around the leaf package as they move past the tall grass.
With every step, the mother duck turns her head to check the bundle in his grip.
A Safe New Nest
They reach a shaded clearing beneath a large tree on the bank of the pond.
The monkey kneels on the grass where a fresh circle of dry reeds is gathered.
He sets the leaf bundle squarely in the middle of the straw and peels back the foliage.
The duck steps forward, inspecting the six unbroken eggs resting in the center of the ring.
She settles her feathers down over the clutch, lowering her chest until the eggs are covered.
The monkey sits back against the tree bark, watching the duck rest in the grass by the water.
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