{"id":4993,"date":"2020-06-24T17:41:59","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T21:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/?p=4993"},"modified":"2020-07-17T17:36:21","modified_gmt":"2020-07-17T21:36:21","slug":"fledglings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/?p=4993","title":{"rendered":"Fledglings"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On each of my visits to the Green Herons&#8217; nest, I noticed more energy and mobility in all 4 chicks. At about 12 days old they were flexing their wings more and beginning to leave the confines and security of the nest. Their growing agility entering this new world continued to amaze me.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4994\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"401\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1.jpg 401w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-267x400.jpg 267w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As feathers developed, they began taking on some colorful hues.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4995\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2.jpg 600w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The parents&#8217; visits were not as frequent as before, but when they arrived at the nest, the chicks were more aggressive for attention.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4998\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6.jpg 600w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4996\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3.jpg 600w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At around 15 days, wing stretches became routine for pre-flight training.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5000\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-1.jpg 600w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-1-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>They meandered and explored the tree where they hatched, all they way down to the water.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4999\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7.jpg 400w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-267x400.jpg 267w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5001\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"401\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5.jpg 401w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-267x400.jpg 267w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At 18 days, these guys were really getting around that willow tree.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/8.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5002\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"401\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/8.jpg 401w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/8-267x400.jpg 267w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At about 23 days old their wing feathers were\u00a0fully developed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5003\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9.jpg 600w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The adults perched and called from the surrounding trees. Suddenly one chick flew out to them.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5004\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10.jpg 600w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Seconds later another followed, then the remaining two took off&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5005\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11.jpg 600w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Off into the forest of Buxton Woods they settled in a cypress tree. All four birds fully fledged, I felt fortunate to have witnessed something so wonderful.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5006\" src=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12.jpg 600w, http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Weeks later, they continue to frequent the area and practice their independence.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On each of my visits to the Green Herons&#8217; nest, I noticed more energy and mobility in all 4 chicks. At about 12 days old they were flexing their wings more and beginning to leave the confines and security of the nest. Their growing agility entering this new world continued to amaze me. As feathers [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,26,37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-birds","category-outer-banks","category-wildlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4993"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5026,"href":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4993\/revisions\/5026"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/photoblog.michaelhalminski.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}