4-12-2025 Wing Bopping And Daddy Watching

Yesterday Sunny almost had good balance down to a fine art during some early morning wingersizes…well, yes, there were a few unbalanced tipsy bops onto Gizmo—and Gizmo had to poke back at Sunny, but that was probably just Gizmo’s way of helping Sunny stand up better…no way it could have been younger sibling ‘complainery’.

But then Gizmo had a turn of fancy wing work-outs and tipping onto Sunny a few times. And for sure, Sunny’s nibbles on Gizmo’s beak were most likely little congratulatory nips about how well Gizmo was doing.

Then Gizmo kindly demonstrated the side view of a full crop (food storage area inside of the throat) so everyone knows even the smaller one is receiving plenty of food bits from their very caring parents.

And everyone was friendly with loving touches as Sunny delicately brushed Shadow with one wing and then Gizmo brushed over Sunny with the same maneuver. Those wings are getting so long that both chicks are having a little trouble finding places to stretch them out without crashing or brushing into someone else.

Sunny seems to have special fondness for dad, first studying Shadow while he sat on the front porch and then watching carefully where Shadow went when he flew off—perhaps a bit of hero-worship going on. 😊

Sunny still is showing a lead in some development areas, such as curiosity and observation, first, in paying more attention to things going on outside of the nest and second in ‘toying’ with things in the nest. This time Sunny found a little stick that obviously wasn’t in its proper place, so it had to be moved…a little this way…a little that way…almost, not quite…bingo, that’s where it goes.

But, no worries, Gizmo did get in another more balanced wingersizing display and will be blossoming quickly. At the moment, both chicks still sleep a lot, but Gizmo’s growth spurts are needing a bit more nap time than Sunny’s.

And Jackie and Shadow are still taking beautiful care of these babies. Even when they are not present on the nest, one or the other is nearby and protecting. They are just giving their toddlers a bit more freedom to expand their awareness and independence.
Enjoy!

Sandy


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