Finch Baby #2

Within days after the the first group of baby finches flew from the patio nest on June 12, another finch couple moved into the nest and laid 3 eggs.  The second couple was far more relaxed and less nervous than the first and smaller couple.  Dad was more active, and both finches were loud and vocal throughout the nesting period, but despite their seeming maturity, only one of their 3 eggs hatched.  Nearly six weeks from the day the first babies left, the one lone baby from the second batch perched on the edge of the nest, trying to get up its nerve to fly.  It sat there all morning, getting more and more antsy and fidgety, and finally it dove from the nest to the patio floor on wings not yet ready to fly.  As I stepped outside to see if it was okay, it hopped away from me, cheeping in fear.  I tried to capture it to put it back into its nest, chasing it into the wildflower garden, but it was too fast. 

Its high-pitched squeals caused Papa Finch to screech down from the tall ash tree into the smaller aspens just above where the baby was hiding, and just a few feet from my head.  Daddy was frantic at my presence, and with the baby finch sheltered in the yarrow, I quickly captured the 3 cats who had, thank goodness, been unaware of this new development in their own private yard savannah, and kept them inside for the rest of the day.  I went out to check on the baby several times, as Daddy continued to call alarmingly throughout the day, and each time Dad came sweeping down just above my head.

This continued throughout the day and into the evening.  Each time Dave looked out the window, the baby was sitting on a daisy leaf, and once in this low branch.  The next morning I went out searching, and both the baby and Dad were gone.  We've chosen to believe that Dad coaxed Junior happily on his flight to whatever constitutes a long finch life.  I do know that, fortunately, the 3 cats have yet to get ahold of a bird, and I like to think that one of the finches that come to eat at the feeder might just be this little guy all grown up.