15 June

Our second fledgling of the 2002 season took her first flight at 1109 on Friday, June 14, leaving the other female and male on the ledge to watch. This lively youngster was the first female to feather out, before her sister and the remaining male. Her flight from the nest ledge was captured on our 24 hour videotape. She perched on the outer ledge, with one sibling near her and the other in the nest box. She flapped her wings, flapped again, and took off. The male who fledged first also was on camera when he left the ledge on June 13. All four eyases were hopping and flapping on the ledge. He perched for a few seconds at the edge of the drop-off, pumped his wings, and flew. Our tape review team reports that the other three simply stood and stared in the direction of his flight for about ten minutes, before resuming their normal activities. We have backed our camera off to record when the birds fledge, if possible. This is how we have been able to pinpoint the times of first flight for the two that have left the ledge.