I wasn't expecting both chicks to fly away so soon. Had they been practicing their wing movements in secret, to get ready for this?
The first one flew away yesterday after I picked it up to let it move its wings. Instead, it flew out of my hand down to the ground, then up into the mesquite tree by the house. It was the last photo I took of the dove family. The chicks are now resembling their parents' plumage.
Today the remaining chick and the parent bird flew out of the nest on their own. The parent dove feinted a wing injury while the chick flew toward a few doves nearby. Neither bird came back to the nest for the night. I'm sure they will remain in the area as this is their territory and I will continue to keep the bird bath and feeders filled.
I was expecting the chicks to hang around for another week to grow strong and practice flying, but both birds seemed ready to leave the nest. Perhaps my daily picture-taking stressed them out.
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