 It
started off like any other morning with the three owlets lined up waiting
for their next meal. When they heard June land on the owl rail, they
wheezed and scrambled to the front of the nest where they tried to out
leap each other to reach her. They were, however, disappointed to find
that she brought no food. Instead, she entered to preen them for a few
minutes before climbing out of the nest and leaving them alone. As if this
was not upsetting enough, both June and Ward then started calling to them
from outside the nest. |
 This
was all of the incentive that Emmett needed to find a way to get to the
doorway. As Abigail and Ernie frantically bounced off of the walls, he
stretched to examine each of the owlet steps before settling back down to
stare intently at the doorway. After almost a minute of intense
concentration, he made a winged leap that put his beak in the doorway and
his feet on the owlet steps. He then pulled himself up and enjoyed his
first view of the world outside the nest box. He spread his wings inside
the box to keep from falling as he looked in all directions and then
stretched to study the owl rail as shown here. He now knew what he had to
do, but also sensed that he was not ready and tumbled back into the nest
to land on top of Abigail and Ernie. He did not make another attempt to
get to the door for the rest of the day, but I expect to see him up there
many more times in the next few days. Abigail looks like she is almost
ready and Ernie is not far behind. I doubt that all three could squeeze
into the doorway at the same time, but can't imagine Ernie waiting for
long. |