Blog carnivals traditionally place the emphasis squarely on the contributors. The role of the host is to respectfully curate the contributions, adding sufficient panache to their presentation to encourage enthusiastic exploration of all linked posts. But this seems a perfect time to remind readers not to ignore the rest of what a host has to offer. For example, the host of IATB this fortnight is Seabrooke Leckie, who muses on the Marvelous in Nature and also helps coordinate the burgeoning ranks of the Nature Blog Network. Seabrooke has one of my favorite nature bloggers since she first hit the scene. Respect Seabrooke for her continuing contributions to the online nature blogging communities but don’t overlook her outstanding photos, prose, and pondering. You should certainly start, however, with her gorgeous hand-drawn beach party presentation of I and the Bird #117.

I and the Bird has been outpacing even Arctic Terns lately, traveling back and forth across the equator. No sooner have we quit Australia for Ontario than we’re headed right back Down Under.  Our next host, Duncan of Ben Cruachan Blog, has been a bedrock contributor to IATB since its inception, at least until he blew out his knee! Show Duncan the birds he’s been missing in his convalescence by sending your links and summaries to me or him (dcfraser AT netspace.net.au) by 2/2 for the 2/4 edition.