Fledge Day!

I have watched these 5 baby barn swallows, since their parents first started courting.   The nest is on my front porch, so I've observed them and sat on the porch with them, since they hatched.   This was the big day, when they all fledged.  They flew around the porch landing on the lamps on both sides of the double doors.  At one point, one was on each lamp above me, 3 were in their nest, and Mama was in an old nest just opposite the current nest.  All the while, Daddy flew in and out of the porch.   

Everyone took turns on each perch, then a burst of practice flying swooping in and out of the porch columns, and back again to a new perch.  We usually have from 2 to 4 babies, but this year we had five!   And from such a tiny Mama!  She looked like a child bride to me compared to Daddy.  

What fun it is to talk to each one, sometimes just above my head.  They cock their heads and look at me with funny faces, as they observe ME!  But, my favorite one was the smallest....she would land on the curved sconce and not be able to keep her balance...slipping one foot at a time until flapping herself straight up again.

Handheld with flash