Well, as you will see, Donna's chicks did fledge today! Donna has managed a little miracle in looking after and feeding her three chicks as a single parent. It was just as well that only 3 chicks hatched as just a few more chicks hatching out may have led to the whole lot failing!
The time switch put the lights on and set the cameras rolling at 5.48am this morning.
The chicks reacted by stretching and getting out of the nest cup ...
... and one of them went straight to the 'window' to see what the weather was doing. (Well, something like that anyway!)
I wonder whether they knew that today was their big day?
Almost immediately, Donna came in with some breakfast. It looks like a mealworm! If it is one, it must have been left in the feeder overnight - we certainly weren't up at this ridiculous hour!
It's almost as though Donna was trying to make life uncomfortable for the chicks - digging around in the bottom of the nest cup - and they are clearly trying to pretend that nothing is happening!
Suddenly, all the chicks break into a frenzy of stretching and wing flapping.
When Donna finally turns to go, she finds her way blocked by a chick in the nest box hole.
She doesn't wait for long, but pushes past the poor chick on the hole ...
... in order to get out.
"If in doubt - wash!" Or perhaps in the case of a bird, preen!
"We've decided - we're not going!"
And then Donna wakes them all up again by coming in with food!
This chick is beginning to look serious.
Five minutes later ...
... and after a lot more hesitation, it flew!
One down and two to go!