Tomorrow my girl graduates from high school!

Frequently asked question at the Decorah Eagle Cam about when the young birds will leave the next:

1. Question of the Week When will they fly?

Learning to fly is a process. They are currently wingercizing. This entails flapping their wings and hopping. Late in the wingercizing phase, a gust of wind will lift them accidentally, and they will hover over the nest because their muscles are strong enough to hold their wings in the correct position and their flight feathers are long enough to sustain the lift. Branching comes after that. Branching is defined as a small hop and lift onto the closest branch. Unless there is a panner present at the time, we will not see this first very small journey away from the nest to the branch. Fledge or first self-propelled flight away from and back to the nest tree comes last. The whole process last 10-13 weeks.

My baby is "wingercizing" now, but she will fledge soon. Meanwhile, I remember with fondness those moments when she was my little baby, my special girl, my sweetie pea!

All the feels!