When we left our chicks on May 23, they had gone from the two tiny dark hatchlings with short stubby yellow bills I first saw on May 3rd. to two very handsome birds about ready to fledge.
May 24. Since it takes around 21 days before the chicks fledge, I figured this just might be the big day so I got out to check on them what I thought was early — 7:00 a.m. Guess it wasn’t so early after all as one chick had already fledged. Darn, I missed it, but we still had one more to go so maybe I still had a chance to witness that one.
As I watched mesmerized for the next hour, the Mama tried to prod the other chick to fledge. He was having none of it although it was plain that he was thinking about it. Finally about 8:00 a.m., the Mama gave up and the chick pretty much settled in for the rest of the day. The Mama came to feed him now and again and he would occasionally do wing flapping exercises. I took 54 photos that day. They’re not the best with the lighting and trying to focus on such a small subject with a point and shoot camera. Here are the best ones that tell the story of an amazing experience to watch.
May 25. Now, I was very sure this was to be the big day so I was checking the nest by 6:00 a.m. although it wasn’t very light as yet. It was surprising to find the Mama there already trying to get the chick to leave the nest. She wasn’t as insistent as she had been the previous day and gave up on him about 8:30. Later, I thought I might be able to get a neat picture so went out on the porch with the ladder. It didn’t work out for the picture, but while I was there I asked him why he was being such a brat — he should listen to his mother. He just stared at me and blinked a couple times — not unlike some human teenagers. LOL
Very Early May 25.
Early May 25.
May 25 early
I went out again about 10:55 a.m. and took this photo from the front.
About 10:55 a.m. from the front.
About 11:15 a.m., I saw that the Mama was there feeding the chick. I turned around to tell Paul she was there and when I turned back — they were gone. Oh shoot!!! I missed it the chick fledging by mere seconds. I went outside and they were in the front tree. The Mama came back over to me so knew I was making her nervous so went back inside. They hung around in the tree for some time, but with the leaves I couldn’t get any photos. Of course, we had mixed feelings seeing them go — happy for them — sad for us. We’ll miss them.
Empty Nest. May 25.
EPILOGUE. Before when the chicks had fledged, we didn’t see the Mama any more hanging around the porch. This time, however, I saw her around the porch a couple times afterwards. Two days after the last chick fledged, I went out with the ladder and mirror to get a shot of the inside of the nest and darned if the Mama didn’t come after me. What a surprise! Then I saw her another day actually pecking around the old nest. Hmmmm! I’m wondering, is she thinking of doing a second clutch in the old nest??? Actually, not quite as it turned out. The last chick fledged on May 25 and on May 30, she started a brand new nest just feet from the old one on the other support she had used before. Here’s what it looked like on May 30.
Second Nest on May 30.
ENJOY! One more thing before we leave this nest — I will be adding a Special Bonus Feature.
Darline's space 
I can’t believe you missed the second one!!! It happened so quickly. Can’t wait for the bonus.
Oh Darline. How many times in our lives do we kick ourselves for turning away at the wrong minute. What a shame you missed it, it would have been a special moment for you after the weeks you have spent watching and becoming part of their lives. Maybe next time.
Yes, that’s true — maybe next time. When they go, it happens so fast that we have only been able to witness that magical moment with one chick of the five we’ve had in the three nests we had on our front porch.