Baby Swallows

[banker_frank]

Woke up this morning to see five small birds all perched in a row on my garden fence. After observing for several minutes I saw two adult swallows come and feed them. The parents have continued feeding them and still are. Any ideas on what has happened? Its windy at the moment and I 'm concerned their nest has fallen away. Perhaps they were taking their first flight and got into difficulty in the wind?

[ladybirder]

They are fledgelings, that's what they do;-)

[Khandro]

Nothing has 'happened' it is the miracle of new life. I have 8 martin's nests on the front of my house, the jettisoned white eggshells are so tiny - about the size of an olive, they are now out in the world and incredulously will be flying all the way to South Africa come September.
The wind isn't a problem but rain is, because the parents can't find sufficient insects for them and they can't survive longer than 24 hours without food.

[banker_frank]

Sorry don't know what fledglings are really. They have proper feathers they don't look like fluffy chicks (if that helps). I've never seen this happen in my garden and the parents look a bit stressed.

[banker_frank]

crossed posts. Is is normal for babies to quit the nest and still get fed by their parents?

[Khandro]

frank; //the parents look a bit stressed.//
and so you would be if you had to feed 'em :0)

[ladybirder]

It is a young bird that has just left the nest. Not able to feed itself yet so parents will continue to feed until they can do it for themselves.

[banker_frank]

There are five of them sat in a row with their beaks open. I've taken photos but no idea how to upload them.

[spathiphyllum]

This is done until the fledglings look like adults.

[spathiphyllum]

http://tinypic.com

[ladybirder]

Here's some pics.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/baby-swallow.html

[woofgang]

sounds like its all fine and normal https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/injured-and-baby-birds/baby-birds/

[banker_frank]

yes that's them. I was just concerned they were out of their nest. Still on the fence but I daren't go outside the back door in case I frighten them. Thanks.

[ladybirder]

Frank, stand guard from your window in case of CATS please.

[Chipchopper]

Good news is, they have very good parents and the young are quick to learn and soon be able to fend for themselves.

[banker_frank]

Now they've all gone onto next doors garage roof, much less precarious and safer from predators. What a nice start to a day I hope they'll be ok, I have a feeling they will.

[Togo]

5 Is a good clutch. Law of averages is that at least 3 will survive. Nature, and natural selection is cruel.

[The Builder]

I was converting a barn once, in an old farmyard. Every morning, we would walk past a family of five swallow chicks happily perched on a beam.
One morning, we walked in to see five decapitated bodies lying on the ground, and a farm cat not trying too hard to look innocent.
We scooped them up and gave them a burial. Silly, really, but what more can you do?

The cat did, partly redeem himself later by catching several rats in the corn mill.

[banker_frank]

Builder:
What a horrible and unnecessary anecdote.

The little darlings are now flying around the field behind my house so all is good at the moment.

[Canary42]

The Nest is actually a dangerous place for the youngsters, as if spotted it gets raided by predators who will return for each chick until the nest is empty, and the young have no possibility of escape - once out of the nest and mobile they have a better chance of fleeing or hiding. There have been some good examples of this on the BBC Springwatch programmes.