Parent & Child

We have started throwing our apple core’s on the lawn and they are proving an instant treat to sparrows, blackbirds, starlings and thrushes, (I’m going to have to work harder at attracting native birds but the nectar feeding birds will eventually enjoy our Kōwhai trees and bushes and Tī kōuka’s once they are more established.

Today I was amused to see a rather large and well fed juvenile blackbird looking patient and pleadingly to be fed while its parent pecked away at the apple core. After every half dozen pecks at the apple the parent would turn to it’s child and feed it. Just before this happened the juvenile became expectant, got excited moved forward and began opening it’s beak to be fed. This picture captures that moment.

Looks to me the juvenile should be quite capable of feeding itself!