Backyard Bird Babies

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation.

"If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young... so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life."  Deuteronomy 22:6

Three tiny baby Chipping Sparrow songbird chicks in a nest. Month of May, Athens GA. The chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, is a species of American sparrow, a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range.

Wednesday, 1:15 PM - The rain has come and continues off and on throughout the day. I’m home early for Megan‘s middle school awards ceremony and have two opportunities for BYOB (Birding-Your-Own-Backyard).
 
Babies are everywhere! No, I’m not talking about all the recent births in our church. But of all the bird babies in my backyard.
 
For a few days I’ve heard the light chirping of nestlings as diligent Chipping Sparrows parents make bug-runs back and forth. I track them down in the Sky Pencil bush at the corner of my house. Three babies crammed into a tiny nest!
 
Later, underneath the birdfeeder, I spot an ugly gray bird with black wings scraping through the mulch. Then out pops a female Towhee mom and “spoon-feeds” the little fledgling!
 
Not long after, the usual Downy Woodpecker is all of the sudden being trailed by a second Downy. Has it found a mate? But again, I see one feed the other I realize it is yet another fledgling in my backyard.
 
The bird parents are busy, busy, busy with all the birdie babies in my backyard.

​Athens, Clark County, Georgia
Forecast: rain, high 77°. Rain overnight, low 66°
Sunrise 6:33 AM, sunset 8:29 PM

Pair of adult Chipping Sparrow parents perched on wooden fence with insects in mouth to carry back to fledglings in the nest. Backyard birding photography in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, USA. Spizella passerina is a small passerine song bird found in North America.

Three tiny baby Chipping Sparrow songbird chicks in a nest. Month of May, Athens GA. The chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, is a species of American sparrow, a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range.

Eastern Towhee fledgling

Eastern Towhee fledgling and its mother

Downy Woodpecker fledgling and its parent.