The Moment of Breaking Free - When a Bird Leaves the Nest

BlackbirdAnne Bonfert

For any species on earth, it is a special moment. The Moment the young ones leave their parents behind and have to fend for themselves. It’s a big step ahead into an independent life.

It’s a moment of freedom. A moment of pride. Strength. And adulthood. But it is also a moment of fear. Fear of the unknown coming ahead. Every child wants to be grown up as quickly as possible. But once that moment is near most pull back and do admit they miss their parents.

I just got to witness one of those special moments in nature. Wildlife has so much to offer. So many unique moments to witness and experience. All we have to do to see them is walk around with open eyes.

I was first wondering if the bird fell out of a nest since it wasn’t moving even when I stepped closer. But I wouldn’t know from where, since there was no tree nearby it could have fallen out.

When I went back inside to grab something I forgot it got all of a sudden noisy. The fragile-sounding voice of the young bird turned into an exciting, happy-sounding call. Her father (recognized on the black color) had arrived to feed him some more worms.

Which means the bird wasn’t abandoned yet. The parents were aware wherein the big wide world their young one was and did still care for it. The father just quickly dropped off the food and flew off again.

But the young one stayed behind. Returning to its vulnerable and weak scream.

Blackbird familyAnne Bonfert

But then I realized there was another one. Another young one. Just a few meters to the left on the rocks. Now I started to understand what was happening.

These birds have been taken for their first expedition. Which at the same time would also be their step into an independent life. They flew off the nest as much as they could. But the parents remained near and kept on bringing nutrients for the young ones to have enough energy and faith in going ahead.

The second bird took a short flight. To the next boulder. Then to the garden house. It walked over the roof. And then flew off. The other one is still calling for his parents.

This must be the nestling.

The young chickAnne Bonfert

This one of the family always acts like a baby. It says it can’t do anything despite having the skills already. It pretends like it needs all the help from elders and loves being pampered.

The father comes back with more food. A small bite was given to the nestling and off he flies again. Just on the other side of the fence, in the neighboring garden, he picks for worms and insects.

It had just stopped raining so I guess it’s a perfect time to feed on all those worms coming out of the wet soil.

A short conversation these two are having. The parent is saying “just jump off and fly”. And the nestling replies “I can’t, I don’t know how”.

The talkAnne Bonfert

Jumping around like a frog the nestling calls for his parents again. They say the smallest ones have the loudest voices. This one definitely does justice to the saying.

And I guess baby birds aren’t crying any less than human birds. They are just as needy and require just as much care and attention.

Especially this one.

The nestlingAnne Bonfert

He reached the edge of the rock and jumps over to the next boulder.

Come on, just give it a try. You’ll see your wings will carry you!

The flat we’re staying in is on the hillside. The garden is having a steep gradient going down. Perfect for a bird to fly without hitting the ground too quickly. Or hard.

But this one is lacking lots of confidence.

Or just the right motivation for the nestling to take off and fly. Who knows? Like my partner says, it’s nature. Life goes on. With or without this nestling surviving another day or not. Out here only the strongest survive.

It's time to goAnne Bonfert

And just as I wanted to give up on the bird he takes off. Remaining very low to the ground but he flies down to the fence. Jumps through the fence and is looking at his parents picking for food.

You better start doing the same. From tomorrow on nobody is going to spoon-feed you anymore. So better watch and learn.

The last meal. The last meal prepared by his parents. The nestling won’t forget this special moment. At the fence. At the bottom of our garden. It was the last time he took advice from his elders.

Then he took off. Around the neighbors' house and up above the village.

He made it.

The nestling took off. Into his new life. The life where he needs to fend for himself. Where he needs to find water spots to drink from and food to eat. He needs to find a safe place to sleep in and many more things.

He isn’t finished learning. Long not. There’s still a lot to learn out there. But hopefully, his parents taught him everything he needs to know to survive. To survive and to thrive.

Hopefully one day, he will be reminded back at this day when he took the leap of faith. The day he is going to encourage his own children to do the same. Then the circle will be closed.

This has been a short story of what happens when you just take a break. If you see something just hold on for a moment and watch. You might experience an intimate situation out of nature.

The wilderness starts right at your doorstep.

I don't get to capture more of the exotic birds. Mostly it's the common birds I get in front of my lens. What about you? Are you into bird watching? Do you visit the surrounding parks of Lompoc in search of some birds? Do you recommend, I head out there and try my luck with my camera?

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