they've gone



empty nest

The chicks all flew away on Sunday. I spent a large part of the day watching them cautiously step/hop out of the nest on to a branch; hang out for a while; and then, in an enormous feat of courage, spread their wings and fly away - to the neighbor's house! The last one to leave had a touch of "failure to launch" - he or she fluttered down to the steps and, not liking that, went back to the nest. That one hung around a bit and yesterday even ventured onto the windowsill for a rest - the dog was quite curious. Today I see no sign of Jnr. so I suspect he/she found the necessary wings to be independent.