Out of the nest
I knew today would be their big day when I saw them all standing on the edge of their nest before bedtime last night.
I got up very early to make sure no kitties were napping on the porch. At first, I thought I was wrong about flight day, because all the babies were still half asleep in their nest.
But, once breakfast began, they sprang right out.
Except for one. One wanted to stay.
I watched this one take his (her?) first flight. She sat peeping on the branch for a long time,
thinking it looked like a long way down,
So proud of herself. Or himself.
Their little crests on their heads weren’t visible until they were about to fly. I don’t know if it was fear, or excitement, or even bravado that made their crests arch up, but just before leaping, up they came, like the full-grown cardinals, a sign of growing up.
Comments
Wow, that looks like a wonderful experience!
Great photos, Elizabeth! Looks like you have some wonderful reference material there, too!
Thank you! It was a wonderful experience! I was so lucky to be there at just the right moment. I do seem to be getting some good reference photos for baby birds lately!