 The
last few days have been easy ones for Ward and June. Calm winds, clear skies
and warm temperatures have resulted in plenty of food for June and allowed
Ward to spend his days sunning himself on his favorite perch. He sleeps
for most of the day, but occasionally wakes up and preens a few feathers,
or stretches his wings as he is seen doing here. While the temperature
only reached the mid-60s yesterday, June surprised me by panting a little
bit as she sat on her eggs. This is something that owls normally do only
when it is very hot, so that this behavior suggests that owls -- like
people -- take a while to acclimate to warmer weather. The nest box is
situated so that it gets direct sunlight in the early spring, but will be
protected as the leaves emerge over the next few weeks. This will
prevent heat buildup in the nest box on hot days, which can be a
major problem for owls in warmer climates. Nest boxes in the south must be
both shaded and well ventilated. |