The only thing more fun than watching birds as they go about their various important tasks in our backyard, is being able to see the adorable babies watch and learn about their new world. We can see them flexing their young wings until the flying and landing procedures become second nature.

And while bird parents may have varying degrees of care giving (none for the cowbirds to loving attendance of the house sparrows), backyard critter moms do the bulk of the more time-consuming care necessary for all the little mammal babies. Most of their action is behind the bushes, in the tree tops or in a tunnel, until the small, furry creatures can fend for themselves.

Either way, it warms our hearts that so many babies (feathered and furred) can call our backyard their first home. It's even more rewarding when our little acreage becomes their forever home or at least their forever vacation home.