Totally off topic.

[Harry S.]

Just wanted to share, I just had to post this some place.

For the past 22 years I've had a bird house just off the kitchen window. Normally, Chickadees, make a nest there. This year for the first time I've seen a fledgling leave the bird house for it's first flight. It was better than National Geographic. I was amazed!

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[Ron G.]

[Tom R.]

Re: Totally off topic.

Nice clear photo! I keep a bird feeder in the backyard (and the chickadees are always present) and this past fall the hawk was roosting on a bar between two trees. Had to ask the Birds of Prey Center what its species assuming it was an adolescent. Learned, due to size and markings its female red-tailed hawk.

Cooper.jpg

But then I captured a Swallowtail this spring dancing around the azaelas.

swallowtail.jpg

[Bill M.]

Re: Totally off topic.

I have to stay away from under my back deck every year due to the nest on the supports. Have no idea what type of birds they are.

[Hank D.]

Re: Totally off topic.

We had a nest last year in a potted plant on our front portico and watched three birds hatch and make their first flight - it was quite interesting.

[Frank D.]

Re: Totally off topic.

I get a slightly different kind of bird on my pier...

[Tom R.]

Re: Totally off topic.

get a bigger lens

[Guy F.]

Re: Totally off topic.

It is nice to be off topic once in a while....

Mrs. Duck under the upper deck, second year in a row.

[Gary B.]

Re: Totally off topic.

Just wanted to share, I just had to post this some place.

For the past 22 years I've had a bird house just off the kitchen window. Normally, Chickadees, make a nest there. This year for the first time I've seen a fledgling leave the bird house for it's first flight. It was better than National Geographic. I was amazed!

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Harry,

We have a chickadee birdhouse in our backyard and every year for many years we’ve had chestnut-backed chickadees nest in it. This year the birdhouse was used for two broods. But over many years neither my wife nor I has ever seen a fledgling Chickadee leave the house. One day the fledglings are in the house, chirping away, and the next day they are gone. The house finches that nest in hanging plants are very different. They practice wing flaps where you can see them for some days and it’s easy to watch when at least one or two leave the nest for the first time. But those chickadees are mysterious little things. I keep thinking this will be the year when I see a fledgling depart. But no.

Gary

PS: Great photo of what I presume is a black-capped sub-species. We don’t get that variety where I live.