 After
June refused to return his calls and spent yesterday afternoon whining at
him, Ward finally got the message. He started his food deliveries just
after sunset and continued bringing it in until after sunrise today. Most
were delivered directly to the doorway, but one large item was handed off
in a nearby tree. The frantic hooting told me it was something they were
excited about and the flapping of her wings against the nest box after her
landing told me she was struggling to keep her balance. This only happens
when she is carrying a very large critter in her talons. Normal prey is
carried in the beak so that the feet are free for landing, but the really
big stuff -- such as rabbits and large birds -- is carried in the talons.
When dawn broke today, there was one very large bird, one mouse, and one
larger rodent stored on the floor. While the bird alone would have seen
them through the day, Ward delivered another mouse at 8:30am. June fed
Emmett and Abigail many times during the day, but would not get up to let
me see if the egg was still there. I hope that she will be more accommodating
tomorrow. Notice how she turns her head sideways so that Emmett can snatch
the food from her beak. |