Fledglings

“Fledglings: A young bird that has grown enough to acquire its initial flight feathers and is preparing to leave the nest. Young birds that have left the nest but do not yet have all their adult plumage and are still fed by the parent birds are also referred to as fledglings, while birds without any flight feathers who are still completely dependent on their parents are called　nestlings. Fledglings are capable of flying but are inexperienced and may seem reluctant to fly or may show difficulty with takeoffs, landings or distance flight. As the feathers continue to grow, the birds will gain more flying skill and their plumage will become indistinguishable from adult birds.” http://birding.about.com/od/birdingglossary/g/fledgling.htm

I have been observing the fledgling birds this summer. They are goofy looking. Sometimes, it’s hard to know what kind of bird they are, because they don’t yet have the identifiable markings that are characteristic to each species. Their feathers grow in unevenly, giving them a ruffled, unkempt look. Once they leave the nest, fledglings seem to spend a lot of time on the ground, hopping more often than flying. The parent birds watch from their perches, but can’t seem to do much more to help.

My young-adult son is fledging—acquiring the feathers that will soon allow him to fly away independently. This process requires some time, space, and freedom—for him to fall, get back up, and try again. He takes short jaunts away from the home, hopping more than flying. He has difficulty with takeoffs, landings, or distance flights. His growth is uneven—half-man, half-child—making it difficult to foresee his future identity. He is still dependent on us, as parents, to provide for him, yet there isn’t much more we can do to teach him to fly.