Visit to the Kids

Learning the High Five!

Counting toes

6th Anniversary

Grandparents

Cheering the Riders

The End of the Story

We've had a wonderful week watching the parents take care of their babies and seeing the babies grow.

The parents not only put the insects in their mouth, but right down their throat. They fed them so continually that it was easy to photograph them. They let us get within 8 feet of them.

We had to go away on Saturday/Sunday and we knew the babies were close to leaving the nest. They leaned way out of the nest and were interested in the world around. We just hoped they'd wait until we returned to leave so we could see and photograph it.

We returned Sunday and found an empty nest. Then I found 3 dead babies on the ground. We assume they left the nest and a cat got them. We wish we had been here to rescue them. Our yard is quieter than it has been for a month or more with no swallows around.

We hope for better luck next time round. And we've talked to our neighbor about keeping her cat out of our yard and she responded well.
So that's the end of the story.

6 Days Old!

In 6 days the baby swallows have grown and gotten a lot fluffier.

Twins! I still have never seen more than 2 at a time. But then, there really isn't room for more than 2 at the door.

We hear a lot of cheeping. It sounds very short and rhythmic - like the blast of a machine gun.

The parents are busy keeping them fed. Notice the waiting beak in the entrance hole.

This is a baby at 3 days old. Quite a change, eh?

We've got Baby Swallows!

We returned from Edmonton today and found our birdhouse had little cheeps coming from it. I managed to catch a few shots while mama was off getting bugs. I've seen two babies but don't know yet how many there are.

I find it amazing how they know to open their mouths wide for food. But then it's also amazing how the parents knew to sit on the eggs and take turns guarding them. God programed all they need to know in their little brains! We should be well-entertained in the next few weeks.

Our yard is a happening place for birds right now. The honeyberries are ripe and the robins have gathered for a feast.