HUMMERS SEEM TO BE ARRIVING

Its the end of May and finally I am seeing hummingbirds at the feeders.  I don't understand it but there are three tiny baby's flying about in the mix of four adults.  I'm so happy I changed the sugar water to fresh this afternoon.

EARLY MORNING

THE BARRED OWL

THE SPARROW

ROSE BREASTED GROSSBEAK

MELTON HILL LAKE EAGLES (SOLWAY) last visit to them

Today is the last visit to the nest on Melton Hill Lake and Solway.  It is a unique site as three baby bald eagles made it through the growth process all the way to leaving.  They now are ready to leave the nest and learn the skills from their parents that will allow them to succeed on their own.  They will follow their parents daily on hunting trips where they will learn to catch fish and become familiar with food sources as well as flight techniques in wind and foul weather.  The parents have been busy all spring hunting to feed 5 adult size bald eagles (themselves and their three full grown youngsters.)   

They were jumping up and down on the edge of the nest and flapping their wings in anticipation of their first flight.  The mother is a hundred yards away in the top of a tree shrieking out loudly.  The youngsters reply with their own unending chirping.  Soon the temptation will be too great to resist and they will be off, one by one following each other, leaping off the limbs as they test their wings, and they will struggle to maintain their balance when they alight for the first time on a round tree limb.  There's much to learn.  I pray God blesses them all.

 Mom is continually calling to them trying to entice them to take that first leap into space.  Nature's wiring will handle the flight gear once airborne.

 Below:  he is looking straight at you

 Again below:  the immature is looking straight out between the uprights.

 Look at him.  He's magnificent!  His life is just beginning

 They are jumping up and down testing the lift of their wings.  They accidentally found out that by flapping their wings - that their bodies can lift off the limb. 

 Below:  Mom

IMMATURE EAGLES FROM MELTON HILL - 2nd set of shots

 The following is a 2nd set of photos depicting the immature eagles from Melton Hill Reservoir.  There were three babies ready to fly but only two are present for this photography session.  I pray the third baby has left the nest and is in his parents keeping.  These two siblings will not be at the nest long, and may have already launched into the second part of their lives as premiere sky birds on this continent.  I pray God looks over them as they journey across our land.