The 2010 Generation
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3 out, 1 to go! The babies are leaving the nests. I have been watching 2 families this spring. Each family had 2 babies this year and they are heading out into the world this week. I have gotten so used to them peering down at me it seems odd to see them out, sitting on a branch 60 yards or so from the nest!
They look a lot bigger out of the nest too. They don’t fly yet. They just hop from branch to branch, usually in different directions. The parents will keep an eye on them and feed them until September or so.
The 2 babies near the slough hung out together for the first day but when I went out there later in the afternoon, there was only 1. That’s the guy in the picture. I have no idea where the other one went. I looked for quite some time to no avail.
The nest down the street from me still has one youngun in it. His/her feathers are still pretty light so it might be a few more days before it leaves. The other one was about 60 yards or so from the nest yesterday.
I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again. Sort of sad in a way. I tried to visit a couple times a week at least. They are amazing animals to say the least. Total stealth when flying and it’s also pretty darn hard to see them sitting on a branch. They blend very well with the surroundings. I will miss them but still look around for them on my walks. Even if I don’t see them, they’ll see me and think to themselves, “There goes that crazy guy with the camera again!”