Chicks growing in size — and wisdom?

Side-by-side in apparent harmony.

In the month since my last post the two peachicks have gained considerable size but they continue to shadow Ms. Bird (sometimes she seems to be following them).

We suspect that size is important to safety, as there is a hawk in the neighborhood. Recently Ms. Bird honked frantically, and noisily flew to a rooftop, apparently upset that the hawk had swooped past. I saw the hawk but of course there was nothing I could do to help but clap my hands fast and loud to shoo it off.

With the hawk apparently out of sight Ms. Bird hopped down from the roof and began looking for her chicks, who had taken shelter under a bush. With her clucking and the chicks peeping the little family eventually homed in on one another.

Days later we saw the hawk take a mourning dove (a bird the size of a pigeon). It had no difficulty whatsoever in carrying off its prize.

It's a dangerous world out there.

Ms. Bird's two chicks show some personality

The chicks seem more aware and stronger every day.

Still unnamed, at least by us, Ms. Bird's two chicks seem to be growing larger and stronger and more aware by the day. It is not hard to imagine that they might soon be roosting in trees.

The little family trio is inseparable for the moment. The chicks love watching their mother, who can not tear her eyes away from her young.

The chicks seem to mimic her moves, fanning their little fans when she does and watching what she eats for clues to what might be tasty.

Although we haven't named the chicks, Bonnie swears that one is larger and stronger and therefore possibly a male. I say it's too soon to tell anything.

Also, there is so much "me too, me too!" scurrying constantly going on that I can't imagine telling them apart at this point. It's hard to even focus on one or the other. Most photos are blurred by their constant motion.

Watching mom and being watched are big activities.

There is no more doting mother than Ms. Bird.

Ms. Bird has two chicks

Ms. Bird and her two chicks posing on the picnic table benches.

"She's here! She has chicks! Get a camera!" I whispered/shouted to Bonnie just after stepping out the door into the front yard Monday morning.

There, looking tentative but proud was Ms. Bird, shepherding two active and fluffy chicks through the perennial peanut ground cover in our front lawn.

It was as though she had brought them by to show them off. Bonnie struggled to get pictures (the chicks wouldn't hold still and nearly disappeared as they struggled through the ground cover).

But by today they were ready for their close-up. The chicks followed Ms. Bird and hopped up onto the back deck. Here they could be photographed through the windows.

To our surprise the chicks proved capable of hop/flying onto the wooden picnic table benches and one hopped up onto a birdbath. Once that chick was on the birdbath it was at Ms. Bird's eye level.

She took the opportunity to examine her chick thoroughly, from point-blank range. She admired and admired the young one.

Ms. Bird can not get enough of her chicks.

It's no surprise. She has been alone for so long now and here, at last, is one of her own kind and its all hers. How she must adore them.

We haven't bestowed names on the chicks. These are wild birds and there are many dangers out there. We don't want to get too attached.

But it is hard not to admire the care Ms. Bird lavishes on her little ones. She will do all she can to keep them safe.