one step beyond

I had just returned from a congenial lunch with a couple of pals and looked on the nestboxcam to see if anything was developing. It certainly was ! Within a couple of minutes the first blue tit fledged and it was clear that the second one was ready too. Grab the camera, watch the action. It was better than any wildlife programme on tv because these were ours and we have watched every stage, from a few eggs to 11. From 10 chicks to just 3. Parents working themselves into a bedraggled mess.
Today the parents were easing out the chicks by offering food but not feeding them. It was clear if you want feeding you have to take your first steps into the big world. It looked cruel but it worked, the first extra show how chick 2 looked totally scared at the idea, but she made it. Chick 1 flew well landed in the willow tree then made it to the fence before dropping to the cover of the floor. The parents ignored her and worked on enticing out chick 2. She also flew well but flapped at the idea of landing on a branch and instead belly flopped onto some heathers and fell through them to stay under cover there. Now both were being ignored whilst they worked with chick 3. However chick 3 is smaller and was clearly having none of that scary stuff. Eventually the parents fed chick 3 and allowed her to stay in the nest another night. 
Now the parents turned their attention back to #1 and #2. Again they kept offering food but wouldn't let the chicks take it. To get fed they had to start flying and get up off the floor. Then practice landing. Then they got fed. Hopefully the parents have taught them enough survival skills to get them through the next days.
Welcome to the big world blue tits.