A New Family

      Here are three photos of the rapid growth of a nest of five Carolina wren babies. The top photo shows them at one week of age. Notice the big beaks--the better for mom and dad to fill with bugs. If you look carefully, you can make out five chicks. (Click to enlarge.)
     In the middle photo, they are about two weeks old and about ready to go. Notice that their feathers are fluffy and mature looking. Dad was hanging around, calling out endlessly, urging them to leave.
     The bottom photo is what I found the next day. Empty nest! Only a few feathers discarded and left behind. I didn't get to see them fly, but assumed that they made it OK.