A Leap of Faith

What an exciting day!  I was up at 6, sitting out on the patio with my cup of tea and camera, about 20-25 feet from the nest box...waiting.  And waiting...and waiting.  Finally, at a little before 10 AM, the first baby left the nest, making an ungainly but successful flight about 60 feet across the yard and up into a big hickory tree.  He/she was quickly followed by # 2 who also made it's awkward flight successfully.  

At this point, I have to confess that my heart was pounding.  It was the most amazing thing to see these little birds take this big flight - one wonders what gives them the courage to do something they've never done before.  Imagine, they've been living for the last 17 days in a small wooden box...and now they are flying!

Number 3 fledged about 20 minutes later, in a flurry of wings.  Meanwhile, Madame and Monsieur were chasing anything and everything that entered the vicinity - chipmunk, grackles, blue jays, mourning doves ...nothing was safe and the parents attacked vigorously!  It was pretty amazing.  

It took another 30-40 minutes for # 4 to work up his courage to fly; and, finally, at 10:57, Number 5 flew, as seen here.  I'm not sure if I just missed the sixth bird, or it it never hatched.  I was never able to see into the box after the eggs hatched to get an accurate count, so very possible that only five hatched.  

Anyway, it was a very fun morning.  I've posted 5 other pics of the fledge starting HERE on Flickr - if you have time.

I've already taken the box down, removed the nest (which I've bagged for a friend of mine) and put up a new box in the garden.  It is my hope that Madame and Monsieur will choose to have their second brood here in our garden.  Fingers crossed.  

Now, I'm off to see if the chickadees are still feeding their babies.  They are due to fledge today or tomorrow so it's entirely possible that they also went this morning.  Hope not as I'd like to see them leave.  

One happy Blipper, signing off for the day.

Debbi