My Voice is Louder than Your Voice

It seems that the babies have discovered that they can use their voices more than just when mom and dad come with food. A couple of them have begin chirping and making noise in between visits. They are starting to communicate with their parents when they are outside and possibly even with each other. It's hard to tell what the chirps mean, but they are definiely finding their voices. When one of the parents come, of course they all scream, mouths open, but they are doing it in a more refined manner. There are a couple who souond differnt than the others. Still, one or two are the more dominant ones, sticking to the top of the birdie pile, but the little ones on bottom manage to squirm to the top (Hey, excuse me! Coming through!), pushing and shoving until they are also able to scream for food.

Mama and Papa seem to know who needs food and who doesn't. In one feeding session, Mama came and went back and forth to the mealworm tray, and fed each one in order, not missing a beat.

I think Hamish is a girl in actuality, but I'll still use the name. Hamish is starting to peek out to see what's going on outside. They also take turns standing on the edge of the nest, practicing their flying, or at least their flapping. It's so funny when they do it because they flap so fast and I think they hit the camera. It sounds like interference or static on the video, but it's just their feverish flapping.

As for growing, I am still amazed at the speed at which they mature. In one day they developed little speckles in a well-defined pattern on their feathers. If you've ever seen baby Robins, it's very similar to the spotty pattern they get as babies. I really think these guys are going to leave the nest pretty soon, earlier than estimated.

Well, tonight is a little chilly. It was 49F at 8:00pm, and it has been drizzly and cool all day, the high only up to 55F. Luckily, they get their down feathers first and they are all puffed up and nose to nose, piled together. They also turn their heads around and tuck their faces into their wings. Some of them used mom to nestle under, but I guess she is too big to fit now because she is not in there with them. It's supposed to get down to 43F, which is pretty darn cold comapred to how it's been, but I am sure they will be fine. I will check in first thing and give an update......

Here's a picture of them getting fed today and one of Lloyd at the Mealworm buffet.