When young songbirds are grown enough to leave the nest, it may be an hours-long process for the parents and the young.
We've been watching the Tree Swallows Tachycineta bicolor for four days, thinking it would happen soon.
This afternoon the parents started flying at the nest box without any food items, teasing the young birds to come out of the nest. Finally, they did. It is amazing to see a creature take its first flight.
This little Tree Swallow is leaping out into air for the first time, nose down and spreading his wings with new strong feathers to fly with the big guys. But he flopped to the ground, flapped his wings a few times, then took off again successfully.
Now, the parents will teach the young birds to hunt for insects on their own. We may see them flying together over the pond.
