More For The Birds...

Yesterday, Sunday, I noticed that the baby cardinals outside my office window were getting stronger & fluffier. Every time the mother sat on them to keep them warm, they were strong enough to poke their heads out. I think at that point, sitting on them was just her way of trying to keep them quiet. When I got into the office this morning I looked in the nest, and to my horror found only one baby! I frantically looked around the base of the tree to see if they had fallen. Then I saw the mother pushing the remaining baby bird out onto the limb. It hopped around and then fell to the ground...perfectly intact. So I did a bit of research and learned that this is the "Fledgeling" stage. The parents have been busy escorting the babies from bush to bush in our little parish garden. Some of the babies can actually hop and fly a few feet. The smallest one hops and falls on its face. I think it is very interesting that the "fledgeling" stage is an essential part of their development. Maybe fledgeling every once in a while is important for us too?