A young American kestrel (aka sparrow hawk) contemplates taking the big leap to join a sibling already out of the nest.

The first juvenile kestrel to leave the nest. It was not yet able to fly, but could flap its wings to maneuver around.

The final shot of the first bird to leave the nest. After failing to make it back up the tree (above) it relocated to a nearby mulberry clump. At that point I decided it was time to leave. The parents were already quite suspicious of me and I didn’t want to interfere with this youngster getting his lunch.

I went back to check on them a couple of days later and they were all gone from the nest.

Thanks again to Mid-American Energy for notifying me about the electric pole replacement.