SWALLOWS2

As the young got bigger they were being fed more frequently and as soon as they heard the adult flying in to the stable they would open their beaks and call for food. There was very little time for us to react and try and take a picture of the young without the adult in the frame but eventually we did manage some classic chick shots.

CHICKS CALLING FOR FOOD

As with most nests it seems impossible that as the young grow they can all fit in the nest and this was no exception. However none of them fell out even when they started to strengthen their wing muscles. 

CHICK FLAPPING WINGS

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As the chicks matured they started to leave the nest and walk along the roof beam. However they didn't stay away long and soon returned to familiar ground. 

THE FIRST TIME WE HAD SEEN A CHICK LEAVE THE NEST 

The first time we saw the chicks fly was when one seemed almost to fall off the nest when it was flapping its wings. The chick landed a few feet away from the nest and after a few minutes managed to fly back to the nest. We were surprised how little the chicks seemed to have small practice flights before they fully fledged

TAKEN THE DAY BEFORE THEY ALL FLEDGED