Flying Lessons- Babies on the Trail

Flying Lessons, 42" x 42" on canvas. ©2016 Michelle Louis

    Did you know many baby birds learn to fly from the ground up? After a brave leap from the nest, they spend a few days hopping around onto low tree branches, into shrubs, toward an encouraging parent who entices baby to fly with a tasty bug or berry. It's a dance, more than an airshow. The parents feed and encourage the young for several days until their fledglings are ready to be independent. So if you see a baby bird hopping around, leave it be. If the youngster is so tiny it can't hop, return it to its nest if possible. It's a myth that your scent will cause its parent to reject it.
    The above painting was inspired by late-fledging robins I observed at the Table Bluff Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail- Flying Lessons, 42" x 42" on canvas.