Fledging

Late June into mid-August is exciting, dangerous and nostalgic for all creatures fledging – including people!

Birds and wild creatures have mated, nested, and are raising young. For some this takes weeks, months or years (kids). This spring has been fun watching the rabbits and variety of birds growing up and fledging.  At the same time, Marion has been reading the Jean Craighead George series:  My Side of the Mountain, The Far Side of the Mountain, and Frightful’s Mountain. About experiencing the power of observation as nature unfolds.

A squirrel family nested in a hole in an oak within view of the back deck.  One spring day we spotted a young squirrel just looking out.  Soon after, we saw young in all the fruit trees hanging upside down.  We think that their dexterity must be developed in part by their having been gestated in the moms leaping from branch to branch and raised in wind whipped trees.

 

Recently, Rich spied a young rabbit family nest under a maple tree.  This spring most ground reared animals like bunnies, turkeys and pheasants were safe from storms. So, the rabbits are prolific! They are hilarious to watch in different stages of growth from naive hand sized bunnies to teen-sized rabbits to adults.  They often hold convention on our front and back lawns. They seem alert and always near tall grass because the owl population has grown – we hear them hooting at dusk.

Crows suddenly seem to appear yet they have been around all the time.  In tall trees a family hangs out watching for food.  On the ground you can tell the adults and young by watching who feeds whom. At some point the adults say, “You are on your own!”  Off they fly and the young have to survive.

 

Wrens and Cardinals are always a treat to watch. The one nest off our back deck gave us great viewing as the pair bonded, set up home, fed each other as one sat on eggs, and the babes grew from a chittering brood to fully fledged and out of the nest in a matter of weeks.  Now the box and deck are strangely and sadly quiet.  But, the fledglings frequent the shrubs nearby, still entertaining us.

Cardinals are perhaps my favorite only because I watched a family grow and fledge the same time our daughter graduated and left for college.

All the animals are amazing to watch. They are smart, adaptable and instructive. We learn a lot watching them. By next spring their numbers will be decreased as many die from predation, accidents, weather and interactions with humans. Meanwhile, keep your eyes and ears alert for these incredible creatures with whom we share this ecosystem.