Yesterday, We watched the louisiana waterthrush nest as the fledglings 
stepped out into the world. The parents spent a considerable period of time 
in the creek bed under the nest with food in their beaks, trying to coax 
the young out of the nest.  Well, we watched one come out. He had a stub of 
a tail.  The others (we could see two for sure) were reluctant to leave the 
nest yesterday.  Today, one bird remained in the nest.  Got to watch and 
video a "dirty diaper" being removed. Also, got to watch and video the 
nestling being fed. 

In a previous year, we watched five fledglings leave the nest on the same 
morning. 

Noticed the male tends to sing an abbreviated version of his song at this 
point in raising a family.

One other observation: started looking for a woodpecker nest, because of a 
whirling call. Turned out to be a young and rather small raccoon holed up 
in a tree cavity.

Flowers:  fire pink and wild licorice and moonseed.

Bob and Elaine McNulty

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