The chickadees fledged while I was at work today

The black-capped chickadees fledged today while I was at work, so I missed their first flights. It is always sad to see them go- the black-capped chickadees are such a big (though small, in stature) part of our garden for so long. Once they fledge however, the adults leave with their little fledglings ("chicklets", I like to call them), and don't return for a while. They do come back after a few weeks, and typically they will have a second clutch. But it is surprising how silent and absent they are from the garden until they return.

In other news, the northern flicker chicks (flicklets?)are getting louder.