phoebes fledge

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At the nature center, the two phoebe nestlings have fledged.

Ijams' educator Emily Boves was the first to notice the nest at the pavilion near the Plaza Pond. She has been monitoring its progress for the past few weeks.

I took this photo about one week ago and the two chicks had already just about outgrown their crib. They were patiently waiting for their wings to develop. (Sort of "waiting da go," as opposed to "Waiting for Godot," the play by Samuel Beckett.)

The eastern phoebe is the one species of flycatcher that remains in the Tennessee Valley all year.

In classic Greek mythology, “golden-wreathed” Phoebe was one of the original Titans, daughter of Uranus (Father Sky) and Gaia (Mother Earth). That's quite a pedigree.