Today is Mother’s Day here in America. I wonder if the beautiful, hard-working avian mother’s have a special day. Maybe, it is the day the little one fledge and finally have “Flown The Coop.”

Seriously, I would like to wish all of my readers a Happy Mother’s Day with this little tribute.

Also, Make Sure You Wish Your Mother A Happy Mother’s Day.

First, the Momma bird lays her eggs:

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Eggs ©WikiC

Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) Eggs ©WikiC

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) eggs ©WikiC

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) eggs ©WikiC

Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) Eggs ©©CC

Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus) Eggs ©WikiC

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Eggs CCFlickr

Ostrich Egg WikiC

“Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice.” (Proverbs 23:25 NKJV)

Second, momma has to sit on the eggs for awhile:

Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) Female on nest ©WikiC

Great Egret on Nest at Gatorland

Great Egret on Nest at Gatorland

Mute Swan on Nest at Lake Morton

Great Egret on Nest at Gatorland

Osprey nest

“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:50 NKJV)

Third, the little ones start to appear:

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) chick-egg nest ©USFWS

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) in nest ready to eat WikiC

Great Egret at Nest with Chick at Gatorland cropped more

Merlin (Falco columbarius) chick in nest ©USFWS

Smoky-Cades Cove – Swallows in nest by Lee

Great Egret at Nest with Chick at Gatorland cropped

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) young on her wing©USFWS

Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) w young by Nikhil Devasar

Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) with young by Ian at Birdway

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) young Viera Wetlands by Lee

Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) with Young ©WikiC

Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) with newly hatched young ©WikiC

Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) with young ©WikiC

Baby Moorhen No Feathers on Wing at Lake Hollingsworth Cropped by Lee

Young Moorhen at Viera Wetlands

“Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 19:19 KJV)

Fourth, those little birds get hungry:

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) with young in nest

Grey Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) Feeding at Nest WikiC

Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) Nest ©WikiC

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) in nest ready to eat WikiC

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) at Nest by Anthony747

Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) at nest ©L Walkinshaw

Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) Feedingby Nikhil Devasar

Oh, My, The feeder is down.

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)with youngsters by Raymond Barlow

Family Circle – Taking Orders

Sandhill Cranes in Sideyard 5-1-15 by Lee

Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) ©WikiC

“Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)” (Ephesians 6:2 KJV)

Fifth, they mature (juveniles) and eventually Fly The Coop:

Galapagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) ©WikiC Juvenile

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Juvenile ©WikiC

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) juvenile by Quy Tran

A juvenile Little Blue Heron fluffs its feathers! ©WikiC

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) by Margaret Sloan Juvenile

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) Juvenile by Lee at Zoo Miami 2014

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) Juvenile by Lee at Zoo Miami 2014

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) Juvenile at Cincinnati Zoo by Lee

Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) w young by Nikhil Devasar

Penguin with young of feet

Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) Youngby Nikhil Devasar

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) with youngsters by Raymond Barlow

Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) with newly hatched young ©WikiC

Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) with young by Ian at Birdway

Sandhill Cranes with Youngsters 4-26-16

Young Moorhen at Viera Wetlands

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) young Viera Wetlands by Lee

Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) with Young ©WikiC

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Juvenile by Lee at Honeymoon Is SP

Double-crested Cormorant by Angie at beach 2

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) by Lee at Honeymoon Is SP

Osprey nest

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) Flying ©WikiC

Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon) juvenile by Ian

Avian mother’s are finished with that batch. Unlike human mothers whose work has just begun, and will continue through every stage of their children’s lives, even into their grandchildren’s lives.

Happy Mother’s Day!!

“Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22 NKJV)

“A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.” (Proverbs 15:20 NKJV)