Marcy Cunkleman’s bird house is seeing a lot of activity now that the new tenants are fully established inside. The tree swallows’ eggs have hatched and the babies are growing fast. On Thursday and Saturday she sent me photo updates.
Above, one of the adults lands at the nest opening last week. There are so many feathers decorating the inside of the box that you can see one nearly poking out of the hole.
At that point the nestlings were still pink and just beginning to grow their own feathers. See the gray bumps on their pink bodies?
Even though they looked pink and helpless they were strong enough to hoist themselves to the nest opening and position their beaks, waiting for their parents to deliver food.
By Saturday they were beginning to look like swallows with glossy dark feathers.
It won’t be long before they fledge.
(photos by Marcy Cunkleman)