Leaving the Nest

A young Great Tit leaving the nest
© 2004 David Jones

When the chicks are strong enough, the parents slow down their visits to the nest. The birds know then that they have to leave the nest to eat. When the chicks leave the nest this is called 'fledging'.

This chick is looking for a safe landing place, perhaps a nearby tree. It won't fly too far away but will make cheeping sounds so that the parents know where it is.

Learning to survive