Graduation

The mid-morning was unusually cool but had the lingering spring crispness that usually is gone by this time of year. I had the windows open and was thinking about my catch-up list when I heard the most unusual bird call.  It sounded vaguely familiar but also more compelling.  You know from my prior post that my to-do list was quickly discarded and with camera in hand I headed outside.  It seemed that Mom and Dad bluebird were having some deep discussion about something as they sat on the roof of their house.

You can see from that glare from Momma bird my sudden presence was not appreciated.  They both had a mouthful of food, yet were still able to have a conversation with each other.  Singing with food in your mouth is not looked down upon in the bird group, apparently.  They did not move from the top of their mansion.  Eventually I out-stared them and they flew to a nearby tulip poplar and continued to chatter argumentatively.

As I walked by the bird house I looked in the front door with my telephoto lense.  I AM a nosy old lady.  There was junior looking for Mom and Dad.  The second that I was out of range he stuck his head out the door and flew without incident to a nearby tree to be fed by one or the other of the parents.  The Blue Birds were fledging!  Imagine your teenage children heading to the garage, keys jingling in hand ready to drive across the continent.  But they have no helmets, wear no seat belts, use no maps!  Egad!  And you sit loyally beside the roadway at various stops ready to provide sustenance and encouragement for the long and dangerous journey ahead.

I looked in the direction of flight and there the young fledgling sat high on an exposed snag and that helped me find him.  Not the best shot, but he clearly looks like he just left the nest.

Mom and Dad darted around calling and trying to get him to the shelter of leaves but he took his time, either afraid to fly again or too rebellious in his new found freedom to listen to mom and dad anymore.
Then I returned to the birdhouse once more and there was his sister waiting eagerly for her turn.

She was clearly not going to join the family until I removed myself from the area, so I turned and walked slowly toward the front of my house.  But I looked over my shoulder and caught this one last shot before the fast and furious graduation ceremony was all over and the bluebirds left HoodFarm for good...unless they are planning on family two in a few weeks?