Flying Lessons

The two blue jays were sitting in the middle of a four-lane road near a busy shopping center in Greensboro. One was an adult; the other was small and plump with short tail feathers: a fledgling. As cars sped by and equipment rumbled at a construction site, the adult blue jay ran its beak over the young one's feathers. But the young one continued to sit in the middle of the road.
As I ran toward it, the adult flew away and perched in a bush behind a house. The fledgling hopped over the curb to safety.
Flying takes practice.
Parents begin teaching the young to fly by bringing food a short distance from the nest. If the young want fed, they'll leave the nest. Gradually they build up their wing muscles and flying becomes easier.
Fledglings often get themselves in difficult situations. The blue jay above was caught by a cat and lost an eye. Others get hit by cars or killed by family pets. If you see a fledgling in trouble, the best thing to do is shoo it out of the way, or if it's been injured, take it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Otherwise, leave it alone. Its parents will take care of it.
I stood in the yard watching the fledgling I had chased from the road. Its parent called to it from the bushes and it took off, flying low to the ground. When it got close enough, the adult hopped to its side and again ran its beak along the fledgling's feathers.
Flying lessons are likely to continue for awhile.