This last weekend in western Washington I saw a male house finch feeding
two young just fledged. They were comically incompetent fliers, still
fluffy and molty, with old head feathers sticking every which way like
cowlicks. They are very curious and will check out anything new, unlike
the adult, who was focussed on getting enough sunflower seeds down to
then kack them up to the begging youngsters. I found it interesting that
it was the male who had them in tow; I also speculated if there were
only two young. I have heard somewhere that in some bird "families", the
male and female split the group up and babysit them until they are able
to be on their own.
Also saw a BCCH adult and 4 young at the suet feeder.
Janet Partlow
elwha.evergreen.edu

On Mon, 3 Jun 1996 jbroadus at seanet.com wrote:

> June the first brought forth unto the world five more Black-capped Chickadees
> from a "wren" box under the eaves of our house in Puyallup. Congratulations
> to the harried parents who continue to raid the sunflower chip feeder.
> -------------------------------------
> Name: Clarice Clark
> jbroadus at seanet.com
> 901-16th. St S.W.
> Puyallup, Wa. 98371
> 206-845-3156
> 06/03/96
> 10:30:18
>
>