blue tit bird.

This is truly a fascinating little mama bird.

Female blue tits gather lavender, yarrow, curry, mint and other scented plants for their nests shortly after laying eggs, and continue to do so until the chicks leave home.

"They are real botanists and do a great job exploiting their environment to protect their chicks," says Marcel Lambrechts of the Centre for Functional Ecology and Evolution in Montpellier, France, one of the researchers.

The birds make a potpourri of 10 aromatic plants from the 250 species in their habitat. Many of the chemicals in these plants ward off bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and insects.

Sheesh, and I thought I was a good mama. 

She is one hard-working little lady.

Read more here.