| As Ward flew away this morning
after delivering a mouse, he had no idea what was going on in the nest
behind him. He just brings in the prey when June calls and owlets somehow
come out the door after a couple of months. Inside the nest, June had
already started dividing up the mouse for three very hungry owlets who
were wheezing, peeping and even biting her feathers as they eagerly waited
their turn. She again started with Dexter, who was making the most noise
and reaching the highest, but somehow knew just when to cut him off and
give the other owlets their share. Dexter was not happy with this and
started snapping his beak and trying to pull food away from Woody, but was
not successful. Getting the right amount of food to each owlet was more
critical today because the crows are back in full force and limited Ward
to only one daylight delivery. In additions to the crows, Ward was also
pursued by a very angry coopers hawk, which is probably nesting in the
area again this year.
The owlets handled the food shortage surprisingly well and slept
quietly under June for most of the day. They were, however more than ready
when Ward made his first nighttime delivery at 8pm.
Rain is predicted for the next few days, so that Ward will have his
work cut out for him in his last few days as the lone hunter in the
family. June normally joins in the hunt when the owlets are around ten
days old, but may be happy to be spending this cold rainy night inside the
dry warm nest with the owlets. Loud thunder can now be heard as heavy rain
pounds on the roof of the nest box. (11:30pm) |
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