as chicks grow they change the fluffy down that covers them as babies for real feathers. at this stage they are called fledglings. other family members may help care for fledgling chicks, feeding them and protecting them from attack while parents are feeding. when the fledglings have their new feathers, they come out of the nest to learn to fly. in some types of birds, like pigeons, the parents watch over this and as the young ones get stronger, will give them flying lessons, teaching them how to glide, how to fly in spirals and how to land like an expert.