First Juvenile of the Season

And we have a winner! For some days we have been toting the tally of possible successful fledglings, but only this week did we see our first for 2010. The Northern Cardinals get the prize. A dubious one, perhaps, as J.R. (Junior Red) was being severely annoying to Papa, begging for food at following the parent about. The way Papa reacted suggests that fledgling time is about over and that J.R. needs to get the feeders figured out right away. I'm also fairly certain we have also seen the White Breasted Nuthatch fledgling, long surmised but never seen. We watched three WBNs yesterday in some variation of a dispute when only two were visible earlier this spring. I was surprised how the juvenile was indistinguishable from the adults. Well, so be it. That nest box story was a success. And who is next? Baby Blue? a young Red Bellied? a baby Wren? We shall see.