The
time switch put the lights on and set the cameras rolling at 5.48am this
morning.
The
chicks reacted by stretching and getting out of the nest cup ... 
... and one of them went straight to the 'window' to see what the weather
was doing. (Well, something like that anyway!)I wonder whether they knew that today was their big day?
Almost
immediately, Donna came in with some breakfast. It looks like a
mealworm! If it is one, it must have been left in the feeder overnight
- we certainly weren't up at this ridiculous hour!
It's
almost as though Donna was trying to make life uncomfortable for the chicks
- digging around in the bottom of the nest cup - and they are clearly trying
to pretend that nothing is happening!
Suddenly,
all the chicks break into a frenzy of stretching and wing flapping.
When
Donna finally turns to go, she finds her way blocked by a chick in the nest
box hole.
She
doesn't wait for long, but pushes past the poor chick on the hole ...
... in order to get out.
"If
in doubt - wash!" Or perhaps in the case of a bird, preen!
"We've
decided - we're not going!"
And
then Donna wakes them all up again by coming in with food!
This
chick is beginning to look serious.
Five
minutes later ... 
... and after a lot more hesitation, it flew!One down and two to go!