Fledglings!

I just watched the birds fledge right before my eyes! I went to take a photo of their progress today. After I took the first one, I went to move another branch for a better look. That startled two of them and they flew (sort of) into the bush squawking at me. Then the third startled as I tried to take another photo, leaving one rather smashed and confused looking baby in the nest! I only wish I had been using a video camera to capture it. I am really glad it happened this way. If I had gone out one day to find an empty nest, I would be really worried that the babies became victims instead of fledglings. This way I know exactly what happened. They are quite safe in the bush - it is big and has lots of great hiding places. Their parents will be able to locate them by their squawking. Now, to try to find them out and about to finally confirm they are Song Sparrows. It could be easier now because they will follow their parents around. When they are in the nest, mom and dad are not going to get caught there when they know we are around. It risks giving away the location of the nest to predators.

My! How They Have Grown!

I wasn't able to get photos over the holiday weekend. They look like totally different birds now! They are covered with feathers - and finally some brown ones to support the theory they are Song Sparrows. These guys look like they will be at least jumping up onto the edge of the nest as early as tomorrow or the next day. Stay tuned!

Baby Birds - Day 4

WOW! They are just growing like weeds! (sorry for the cliche) Oh, and by the way, I didn't count beaks correctly that first day. When I went back to zoom in closer on the first photos, there were only 4 then, so we haven't lost one. I am having serious doubts about the Song Sparrow theory, though. They are just so gray. The field guides aren't very helpful with juveniles - especially pre-fledgling. My Sibley's does show that the juvenile Eastern Song Sparrow has a lot of gray on its back compared to the adult. So, it still could be the Song Sparrow I saw coming and going from the nest area.

Baby Bird Update - Day 3

I plan to check on the birds as often as I can so we can see how they grow. I expect they will fledge after the long weekend coming up - notice the little wing feathers they are already growing! Oh - and a tip: when you are going to go into a juniper bush to take a photo of a nest - wear long pants and long sleeves! The needles must have something really irritating on them - we come out with stinging bumps all over any place that contacted the bush.