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.