[EBB Sightings] proud parents

Peter and I are now proud parents, but suffering a bit from the empty nest
syndrome.

On Tuesday, three Western Scrub-Jays fledged from the nest in the bedroom
orange tree.  They spent the rest of the day together in the tree, but
then moved on.  Meanwhile the parents were being totally obnoxious to the
nesting Chestnut-backed Chickadees - I think they were waiting for the
little hors d'oeuvres to fledge. I was seriously concerned that the
parents were so busy being upset with the jays that they might not be able
to feed their chicks, and I would sometimes have to shoot the hose at the
jay to give our chickadees some peace.

Today the vocalizations changed, and I could hear one fledgling in the
yard.  As I watched the nest box, I saw two more take their first brave
leap into the blue yonder (one flew clear across the yard!). After a bit
of concern while the parents tried to figure out where the kids had gone,
I think they rounded them up and moved away from the nest vicinity.  The
afternoon was awfully quiet - I miss our little families.

Other highlights today were a Warbling Vireo and Pacific-slope Flycatcher
in the yard.

good birding,

Jaan Lepson
Livermore