For the Birds

We watched our stupid mourning dove family endure the windstorm and rebuild. We watched the Mama and Papa take care of the baby for a few more days. Then Mama and Papa quit coming back to the nest. They hung out on the gate or the wall or by the pool, but they never went back to the perch on the pillar. Baby Bird was all alone. 

Mama and Papa would yell at Baby, but Baby just sat snuggled up on his perch. Until one day he sort of fell/dove down to the gate. He sat there fluffing his feathers for a few minutes getting settled on this new perch.

The Mama and Papa yelled at him some more until he stretched his little wings. He lost his balance and did not leave his new perch.

It took him a while, but eventually he semi-float-fell to the patio. He walked over to a shaded spot in the bushes by the wall and stayed there for the rest of the day. I guess he did in fact learn to fly, because we haven't seen him since.

 

And, the quail are out and about.

Pairs are crossing the streets and wandering around our yard. I can't wait to see the little families!

Nicco likes watching our avian friends. "Birds," he said. "What interesting creatures."