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As regular readers of the Befouled Weakly News will know,
our garage roof space provides Five Star accommodation for some swallows
which return year after year. This year only one nest was occupied and this
photo shows the nest, right up in the apex of the roof space, with four
babies; two have their heads poking out and two have decided to exhibit
their backsides. This was taken about two days before they flew the nest
for the first time and perhaps they are just so big that they have to take
turns facing in and out. |
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Dinner Time!
This was taken again about two days before the babies
fledged and shows the two babies facing outwards sitting up for the delivery
of a meal from momma or poppa. The other two have either had enough for
the time being or their turn is yet to come.
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Two days after the photos above were taken, the babies
left the nest for the first time. They carefully fly from beam to beam in
the garage and then sit on one of the joists waiting for either more food
or an individual flying lesson. Whenever you go into the garage they sit
rigidly, convinced that if they don't move you won't be able to see them. |
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After about two days you can no longer catch them sitting
on the joist - they have become such accomplished aviators that they are
out and about being taught to fend for themselves. These two are still
waiting for their flying lesson!
Once these four are fully certified pilots the parents
will start the whole process again and raise another nest full! Goodness,
it's hard work.
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