This is bird note.

Sometimes in the spring or summer, you might come across a young songbird that's just left the nest.

It's a fledgling, fully feathered, but with wings and tail still looking a bit stubby.

Fluttering furiously on those short wings, it flies a short distance to the safety of a nearby bush.

Like a toddler, it's unsteady. to the safety of a nearby bush.

Like a toddler, it's unsteady, awkward, and learning the ropes.

It may look like this young bird has left the nest too soon.

In the case of the black cap chickadee, just 16 days after hatching.

But there's an adaptive advantage for nestlings to exit the nest as soon as they are able, even if they're not quite ready to fend for themselves.

A nest full of begging young can be a target for a predator.

Rather than risk the whole brood to a raccoon or snake, adults

may feed the young, one stashed here, one there, in greater safety as they totle

from shrub to shrub.

By about the tenth day after the young leave the nest though,

chickadee adults stop feeding them and may even turn aggressive,

meaning it's time for the youngsters to disperse and feed themselves.

At this point, they're fully fledged, should have their full set of flight feathers, and

be ready to take to the skies.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.

Support for Bird Note is provided by Mary Piggett from Seattle, Washington and generous

listeners around the world.