 The
owlets seemed fascinated by the nest box as they inspected every detail
just before dark today. They played on the roof, walked on the owl rails
and even repeated some of the jumps that they had made as they left more
than two months ago. One of them entered the nest, but looked very uneasy
and was back outside playing on nearby branches in less than five
seconds. It will be about three years before they are ready to start
families, so that a nest cavity is no more than a curiosity for them
now. While they have generally stayed well hidden, I have heard them
wheezing a couple of times at dawn and just after sunset. I have also
heard Ward wailing in the night which usually signals his arrival with
food for the owlets. He and June should be cutting back on the food
deliveries over the next two months as the owlets improve their hunting
skills. Note that they now have bold vertical stripes on their chests --
just like adults. |