The box is getting pretty full.
I went up to check on the chicks the other day to make sure all four were still on the ledge. And they were. They just like to wander in and out of our camera range. This photo was taken 6/16/09.
They also seem to be the most active in the mornings. They like to flex their wings and take long hops up and down along the ledge. I’ve noticed that their wing span is too wide for the ledge so they have to start out on that part of the ledge that juts out and leap towards the window with their wings spread. This photo was sent in by one of our viewers. Great shot. Thanks.
The young birds are becoming very sure-footed and quite the divas. They constantly check out their reflections. They didn’t seem to be too alarmed when they saw me, but rather curious and watchful. Zeus and Hera were no where to be found which makes me think that they are staying away from the nest box to try to coax the young ones into leaving the ledge. When they finally take that leap of faith, it will be more like a glide down to another roof top. In the past, the young birds have ended up on the busy streets and someone from the Raptor Recovery Nebraska was contacted to retrieve the bird and put it back up on our roof.
Have you seen them sleep lying down? It sort of looks like they are dead or have been stepped on. It may look weird, but this is how the young ones like to occasionally sleep.