Last Summer Teens Gaining Adult Plumage

One by one our last round of 2nd- or 3rd- brood juveniles have gained adult plumage. There are still a couple of cardinals with the dull feathers and dark bills and this young male Red-Bellied (pictured -- sorry for the poor image: it was the only one I had) is at last looking less like a buzzard. In a way they are in a race for time. Nature is already giving fall more than a passing thought. Food supplies will begin to tighten appreciably over the next ten weeks and these youngsters need to gain strength and learn their way to expert self-sufficiency. Of course, here, they always have a guaranteed meal when needed, but one never argues with instinct. And soon these juveniles will be full fledged adults... and it will be winter again... and I'll be wondering about the 2011 crop of hatchlings. Can't wait!

Note: I will not be posting for the next few days. Please forgive the little absence. We'll report new matters again on Monday. See you all then!