Oh, dear. My archives contain very few people photos, and therefore even fewer of children. To fulfill the challenge that Tina poses this week, I’ve selected some favorite baby bird shots. Maybe this will prompt me to go places where people gather and to take more photos of humans interacting!
Ducks, geese, and chickens are examples of precocial birds; capable of movement and self-sufficiency soon after hatching. Above, a hen Mallard with her brood of five ducklings are on their way to feed in a marsh pond.
The majority of birds that frequent my feeders are atricial; immature and helpless when they hatch, and require care and feeding for some time afterward. Parents often appear smaller than their emerging fledglings. Above a Downy woodpecker stuffs suet into the chick’s mouth, and below a Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker does the same. Over time the chicks learn to cling to the feeder and get suet on their own.
Below, a fledgling Killdeer is almost invisible in the grass and dried foam of the receding marsh. Ground-nesters, adult Killdeer have elaborate broken wing displays to distract predators from their nests as the atricial babies grow.
Lindy Low LeCoq 
Lindy, I love your young birds! The images of the mothers feeding the babies are great!
Thank you!
Lindy, you are not alone regarding the issue of people/children’s photos. You found out a wonderful way to illustrate the challenge. These are great photos of these birds feeding their young ones. Thanks for the information you provided. The killdeer photo was so good. I’ve only seen them once, and it was on a parking lot near my bike trail.
Thank you, Egídio. I’m pleased that you found the information and the photos interesting. The baby Killdeer was nearly impossible to see with the naked eye. I just kept snapping shots with my lens all the way out and was lucky to have one good shot!
his is great Lindy – you are really good at spotting the little ones and know alot about them obviously. I love the little ducklings and the pelican especially. Loved the tidbit about how they incubate the eggs. Amazing!
Thank you, Tina. Your challenge has inspired me to make it a goal to get out into more public places with my camera and take more people photos!
Good ones Lindy. I love the bird ‘feeders’. 🙂
Thanks, John. Those adult birds are absolutely exhausted by the time the fledglings are able to fend for themselves.
Beautiful youngsters, Lindy! love them all, but the Killdeer and the brown pelican are my winners!
Thank you, Leya. I always feel lucky when I get a shot of birds in nature!
I find it touching that birds feel safe to bring their young to your home for food. It says something about your yard, and your disposition. And interesting fact about the pelican. There are so many birds who keep their young out of sight. It seems like when we see them they are grown. Interesting read. Nice photos.
Thank you, Donna. We have the feeders up year-round and don’t allow the dogs to bother the birds. Most of these shots I take from inside the sliding door.
Beautiful bird images Lindy, and right in your yard.
Thank you, Anne. It is a joy to nurture birds, to learn about them and be able to get photos of them!
Lovely bird images, Lindy! Love the first one especially.
Thank you, Amy. Ducklings are always cute!
😊