Day 27 and pot plant is getting small...

There's no denying it. These chicks have got 'it' - that special quality that draws people to them, and makes it hard for people to say goodbye. In two words - utterly adorable!

At this stage, the chicks eat and sleep, and eat and sleep, and precious little else. For those who haven't been watching the webcam, I don't think you can appreciate just how much food they devour in an evening. It astounds me still, four years on, just how quickly SEO chicks have to grow. All their energy is used for growth of wings, flight feathers and replacing baby fluff.

In the next few days, we will begin to see much more activity, as the chicks practice pouncing, wing flapping, hopping, gnawing and, of course, their favourite pastime - playing.

The pot will be a hive of activity, and pretty soon, too small to hang around in. When I watch the chicks, I see them peering over the edge of the pot, looking down. Ah! Our balcony floor already beckons...