This year’s first brood of swallows left the nest last week. Unfortunately, they flew while Tom was out of town (at TechEd in Los Angeles) so he didn’t get to share in that most fun part of their little lives.
This was a fantastic little family: the mom and dad birds seemed more diligent than ever, with one of them there at the nest almost constantly. And they built the nest up so tall that there was no danger of the babies falling out as they’ve done in years past – I didn’t have to (get to) go out and pick up a fallen baby even once.
Baby birds, huddled together, contemplating flying
When it came time to fly, there were no problems – none of this hanging upside down by their feet, no reluctant baby who wouldn’t leave the nest. And they took it a step at a time. The first day, they fluttered around on the balcony but didn’t venture down into the yard. The second day, they would sit on the rail for a while, fly around for a while, then come back to sit on the rail. By the third day, they were swooping and flying like old pros. 
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One baby takes flight
Landing on the rail
Looking back up at his brothers on the ledge
Come on down here with me!
Mom comes to feed him
Soon they’re all down on the rail, but still staying close together
And now the adult birds are preparing for their second brood – and in fact, we have two new nests under construction. This may turn out to be our best bird year yet.
