 When
a defiant squirrel started dancing on her roof, June at first ignored it.
Ward was providing all the food they needed and she didn't feel up to
chasing a squirrel on this rainy day. The squirrel, however, persisted
even after June started snapping her beak as owls do when they are annoyed
or threatened. The owlets quickly picked up her lead and started to
imitate her with their own surprisingly loud beak snapping. They are shown
here in the darkened nest as they continued to snap their beaks while June
blocked the door and threatened to go after the squirrel. The squirrel,
however, was unimpressed and taunted June from the roof for almost a
minute before finally scampering away. I doubt that the squirrel would
have been so bold if it had known that the owlets had dined on squirrel
earlier in the day. The owlets, however, had learned a valuable new skill
that they will use many times in the future to hold enemies at bay. |