Spring is a magical time of year for nature lovers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently shared a series of adorable photos showing one of the highlights of springtime in the animal kingdom—baby birds (in this case, goslings) leaving the nest. In the photos, tiny yellow goslings fall with style as they leap from the only home they’ve ever known into the unknown waters below.
“Wait for meeeeeeeeee!” wrote USFWS in its Instagram post sharing the adorable action shots. “Six not-so-graceful goslings took a leap of faith last week, following their parent from the nest and jumping to the water down below. For the next few months these goslings will grow quickly while staying close to their parents, eventually gaining the ability to fly.”
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The photos are from the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer in southwest Washington. Assistant Refuge Manager Jake Bonello captured the photos, which have captured the online community’s hearts. It’s easy to see why!
See some adorable goslings leaving their nest here:
My favorite is the second photo. Which one’s yours?
Header image by Robin De Roeck via Getty