New Life, Part 4

And now we're empty nesters. It started with Mama pushing one of the four little chicks out of the nest. I guess the nest had gotten too crowded for four little hatchlings, so he was the first to go. Wings spread, he managed a decent glide into the yard, found the remains of last fall's leaf pile, and got on with his life.

Now with a bit more room, the other three were a lot more hesitant to leave. It was much warmer and cozier up there. At least until the next afternoon, when a big monster with big, stompy boots thumped up the steps to the back door, like he'd done every day coming home from work, and caused all three birds to fly into an urgent panic to vacate their nest, literally scaring the crap out of them in the process.

I certainly didn't mean to do that!

Two of the four hunting their morning breakfast. Still spending most of their time on the ground, but that'll change soon.

New Life, Part 3

The babies have feathers now. The nest looks like it's getting rather small for all four of them now. By next week they'll probably be hopping along on the ground behind Momma!

"Mom! He's touching me again!"

New Life, Part 2.

The babies have hatched! The kids are absolutely entranced, as the baby birds have gotten big enough to hang their heads out of the nest and wait for Momma to come back with a juicy worm or a big tasty bug.

Hard to see all four, but that one guy really likes to hang his head over the side and be the
first one fed.

We thought there were only three, but this evening we saw four little heads all poking up, beaks in the air, waiting for food.

Poor Momma, the only way she gets any peace and quiet is to just sit on the nest for a bit.

According to Wikipedia, they won't be in the nest for more than another week or two.