| Rufus may look big next to the other owlets, but when he stuck his head out that door, he looked tiny. He made his bold leap from the floor in response to Ward and June's repeated attempts to call the owlets out. They all responded excitedly to their parent's calls, but only Rufus dared to make the big leap. He spent almost five minutes studying the owl rail and reaching down to touch the owlet step, but did not attempt to go further. He then turned back and crashed awkwardly to the floor on top of Emily and Seymour. I can only wonder if he was not disappointed that he did not find any mice up there. After all, he has seen hundreds of them come through the door. This was a big accomplishment for 26-day-old Rufus and I expect him to make many more extensive trips over the next few days. |
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| Emily and Seymour looked up with envy as Rufus sat in the doorway that all the mice come through, but did not try to join him. I expect Emily to make her move any day now, but am not sure just what Seymour will do. Shortly after Rufus' return to the nest box floor, six baby red foxes appeared about two hundred feet from the nest box. June watched them carefully from her perch and has not attempted to call the owlets out since. They will need to be very good climbers to survive the hungry parents of these fox kits and may need a few more days to mature. Barred owls that fall from the nest before they are able to perch and climb have little chance of escaping predators. |
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