The second brood of Barn Swallows are all in flight & hunt training
With every brood that has hatched in our barn, there is always one kid that does not want to leave the nest, lollol
It is comic to watch their parents and siblings sit on a beam, encouraging them vocally, wing flapping and flying.
This morning, one of my horses was laying down close to the stall rails that are below the Swallow nest. The lagging fledgling was sitting on the top rail, sort of across from the head of the horse still napping.
The little bird watched me feed the other horse and generally go about my business. His head followed me but his wings and feet never moved, lollol
My napping horse finally decided to get up, a process that involves throwing his head up as part of his balancing act to land on four hooves. When he tossed his head upward it startled the lazy little fledgling to where he jumped slightly, the wings started flapping, and out the barn door he went.
I don't think he was supposed to go out the door, as one of the parents started chirping excitedly and was hot on the kid's tail feathers.
Later in the day all four fledglings were sitting on a beam picking their feathers and making little sounds that, I like to imagine, were a recap of their new found adventures.
They are so funny. They will still roost in the barn for awhile but they will be gone sooner than I want. They provide me a lot of entertainment when I am doing barn chores
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