after a couple weeks of desiccating in the low latitude sunshine, the beauty of the beast is gone, as all but scales, ligaments, claws, and bones remain. and the house finch nest at the front entry was raided by something, presumably a carnivorous bird which made off with the hatchlings, dropping one on the front sidewalk, as well as eating the unhatched egg. the parents are nowhere to be seen. I’ll build a more protective birdhouse to attach to the wall directly, like I did in the back, one with a small entryway to keep the predators out. I have a hunch it’s the roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus, a ground cuckoo) which is seen every day, wandering around the yard, looking for … food? apparently they eat lizards, scorpions, snakes, other birds, insects, and rodents. urp!!