 It
cleared up briefly at midday and June took the opportunity to make many
more visits to the nest box. She is shown here with Abigail, just before
she walked over to preen her. Both Abigail and Emmett spent a lot of time
in the door, but neither made any effort to get to the owl rail. They do,
however, leap to the doorway with ease, and are clearly capable of
surviving outside the nest. Ernie is, however, another story. He has made
no effort to climb to the door and his antics would suggest that he is
planning to dig his way out instead. There was a lot more calling from the
adults just after dark and the owlets reacted with a lot of wing flapping
and wheezing. It quieted down a lot after that and I've only heard Ernie's
wheeze since then. It's quite possible that the older owlets are already
out in the branches, but I won't know that until daybreak. If they are
outside, they are getting their first taste of water in the rain that
started up again just before midnight. |
June started the day calling
to the owlets from this perch. It was cold and raining and she was
completely soaked; but doing her best to urge the owlets to leave the
nest. That's Emmett looking at her from the door and he was having none of
it. The owlets were dry and warm in the nest box and not nearly hungry
enough to brave this weather. June's other motive for perching here was
the snake she was watching in the underbrush. Just after this picture was
taken, she dove on the snake and delivered it to the owlets a minute
later. It was just one of many meals they got today.