Almost Grown And Flown

Day 272: My little ones are almost grown and flown. Both the House of Chirp and Pussywillow Cottage were occupied by Tree Swallows this year and were threatened by both starlings and a particularly determined squirrel who remodelled the entrance to the Cottage before I managed to trap and relocate the varmint. Despite the incursions, the swallow tenants raised their broods successfully. The parents trained the youngsters well. I only saw a little head peek out from the House of Chirp once, although standing under the house, I could hear an abundance of chattering going on inside. The two kids in Pussywillow Cottage have only recently defied mom's orders, and for the last several days, they've been scrabbling at the door for viewing privileges when she goes off to hunt for insects. Their appetites are enormous! I once saw her disappear into the interior with a large butterfly, only to emerge a second later, having stuffed it in someone's waiting beak. It won't be long now before they follow her to the phone wire. She and dad will feed them on the wing for a week or so before the family begins its migration.