Sometimes a selection of prepared images gets skipped in favor of current news. These are from May 7th, first in our garden and then in the park.

The robins are in the 4 baby nest. First baby, the runt, was dumped by the parents.  Next baby also became a "reject".  Two in nest seem healthy and strong. They fledged successfully.

Two mourning dove nests, one in tree in back garden and one over the lamp fixture, both nests with one nestling. Mama sitting on babies in both cases.

Food collection for robin nestlings

Roller skis. Looks good to me.

We were having a conversation.  No fear.

The buds are now gone, but during this time period you can always see the orioles coming in for bugs and seeds. There is a predictable pattern,  pink buds= orioles.  This is the female.

Witheringly beautiful

    

______________________      

Two families

In the grass, Mama and baby, absolutely gentle, undemanding, patient,  attentive parent.

Different scenario, different kid, less attentive parent. This kid was exhibiting young starling behavior, ferocious.

                                 They  flew off and I went looking for more family situations
                                    ______________________________________________

More from garden

I could watch cardinal baby sitting forever. The parents are so attentive.  I suspect the mother is incubating again while Papa attends to feeding the first born.  The deliver is a mouth-full of food, but it's not all delivered at once. Delivery is bit-by-bit. The baby was in a variety of trees, not easy to photograph. Flight was also not strong, bobbled landings. Finally it arrived on this perfect-for-observation branch.

Watching Papa.

Change of branch.

At this point the baby flew west across West End Avenue into the willow tree. That took my breath away. I didn't think the baby had the strength to make that long flight, but it did and survived.  More bugs and seeds in that garden.  It may fly back to our garden. It's quieter here.

_____________________________________________