 It was a
cold rainy morning as Ward delivered a mouse to June while she sat on the
nest box floor. This type of room service does not normally start until
she lays her first egg, but there was no egg. It was starting to look like
she had tricked him until she started making the egg
cough sound that she always makes while she is laying an egg. Five
minutes later, she stood up to reveal her first egg of the season. It had
come on exactly the same date as last year's first egg! She must have
quite a calendar built into her head. Ward is apparently doing a good job
with the hunting as June was so well fed that she did not eat the mouse
for several hours and did not call to him all day. She did, however, leave
the nest at sunset in response to Ward's call and will probably be out for
most of the night. Serious incubation does not start until the second egg
is laid. Let's hope that this is the start of another good year for the
owl family. |