Roger That, We’re Go Flight

The larger of the two Anna’s hummingbird chicks has taken the big step of leaving its cramped nest to a nearby branch where it’s waiting for the right time to take wing (click to enlarge):

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And sticking its tongue out a lot. It’s not every day we humans have the privilege of seeing a hummingbird’s tongue.

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Safe travels little perfect bird toward a wonderful life filled with plenty of nectar and your own children to raise some day. Though I’ve only known you and your sibling for not even two days, I will miss you so when you must go.

 

UPDATE (5:07 p.m.): Launch aborted. Postponed perhaps until tomorrow’s daytime flight window. Pilot has returned to nest.

UPDATE (5:48 p.m.): Cancel that. The first chick is away. Repeat: The first chick is away!

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Will

Will Campbell arrived in town via the maternity ward at Good Sam Hospital way back in OneNineSixFour and has never stopped calling Los Angeles home. Presently he lives in Silver Lake with his wife Susan, their cat Rocky, dogs Terra and Hazel, and a red-eared slider turtle named Mater. Blogging since 2001, Will's web endeavors extend back to 1995 with laonstage.com, a comprehensive theater site that was well received but ever-short on capital (or a business model). The pinnacle of his online success (which speaks volumes) arrived in 1997, when much to his surprise, a hobby site he'd built called VisuaL.A. was named "best website" in Los Angeles magazine's annual "Best of L.A." issue. He enjoys experiencing (and writing about) pretty much anything creative, explorational and/or adventurous, loves his ebike, is a better tennis player than he is horr golfer, and a lover of all creatures great and small -- emphasis on "all."