Bird Watching

One morning when David and I were having breakfast at our house in Kentucky, we looked out on the deck and were totally mesmerized by a mama and daddy bird teaching their fledglings how to fly. They had lined up their four babies on one side railing of the deck and the mama flew next to them while the daddy was on the opposite railing with worms and other yummy treats. The mama chirped something at the babies, then flapped her wings and jumped from the railing and flew to the other side where she got a nibble of one of the treats. That's all it took for one bird, clearly the dare devil, to take off...only problem was he jumped before flapping his wings and while he didn't crash, he did have to be picked up and placed back on the railing.

The mama came back, showed them what to do again, and off three of the birdies went. They flew to their daddy, got their treat, then flew back and forth and back and forth a few times and then were out and flying around the yard. One little baby, the fattest and fluffiest of the bunch, would not budge, though. He squawked and crowed and plead for his mama to bring him the worm, but she wouldn't do it. Patiently she kept landing beside him, flapping her wings, jumping and then flying to the other rail. He started flapping his wings but would not jump--clearly terrified.

Mom and dad must have had some silent communication, though, because dad came over, did the whole flapping then jumping routine and flew to the other side. Fluffy baby started flapping his wings like mad and then mama came up from behind and knocked him off the rail. Since he was already flapping, he somehow managed to fly to daddy and get his very own big fat bug. If a bird could look startled that little fellow did! Then he was so thrilled with his new trick that he started flying all over the place. I still imaging him settling down in a nest near his mom and dad simply because he likes the attention.