Fledging Day Arrived!

 

Checking to make sure the coast is clear.

Saturday morning I arose and did my morning routine. As part of that routine, I checked on the bluebird house from the dining room window and didn't see any activity. I kept watching for probably around 20 minutes and saw not a sign. Thinking they had already fledged, I put on my shoes and went outside to check but saw that the three chicks were still inside. Indeed, they had all been standing up but laid right down when my face showed itself. I knew fledging was probably imminent so I went inside and sure enough, it soon got started and I was fortunate to capture some of it on "film" using my DSL camera with zoom lens through a dirty window. Enjoy the show.

One of the parents saying, "You can do it!"

"Do what mom? Wow, there is a lot of room out here."

Chick 1 successfully launched out and landed in the grass near the house without me catching the shot.

Parents back saying, "Chick 1 did it. You're next!"

"Come on and get a move on!"

"See, just like what we are doing!"

Chick 2 says, "Whee!"

Mama making sure Chick 2 stuck the landing.

Checking out the new bigger world.

"Come on Chick 3, we're waiting on you."

Chick 3 says, "It's a long way up here."

"Geronimo!"

Chick 3 safely landed in the lawn.

Chicks 1 and 2 took to the air soon after their first flight. Chick 3, perhaps the last one to hatch, hopped around in the grass for a long time with his parents regularly checking on him. Eventually I didn't see him anymore and went out to look and couldn't find him but his parents were nearby in trees scolding me so I left the search and went back inside. As I write this, they are all down in the tree line at the base of our property and the parents are flying around nearby and making trips into the trees. It certainly was neat to see this all happen from the comfort of my dining room chair.