Just
as it was looking like Ward and June's incredible string of nesting
successes might go on forever, nature dealt a harsh reminder that they are
only one part of a vast network of interdependent wild creatures. This
reminder came when a fisher (Martes Pennanti, which is a large and
agile member of the weasel family), predated the nest. Ward and June were
both out hunting when the end came swiftly for this season's owlets, and
were not aware of it until June returned to find an empty nest. She
responded to her loss with wails and squeals which were repeated in two subsequent
visits to the nest during the night. By dawn, she had moved deeper into
the forest where she and Ward could be heard exchanging classic
hoots, as if to remind everyone that this was only a temporary setback.
Their ancestors have shared the forest with the fisher for thousands
of generations which must have seen many such setbacks, but have always
recovered to produce new generations of owlets. While modern technology
has allowed us to see this family of owls as humans have never seen owls
before, we must remember that their story is only one of the millions of
untold stories that have made them and the other wild creatures of the
forest what they are today. I plan to continue reporting on their
activities as they start this new phase in their fascinating but
unpredictable lives.
While the fisher's size and ability to climb effortlessly through the treetops would appear to give it an overwhelming advantage, it was for a time driven to near extinction by loss of habitat and relentless trapping by those seeking its luxuriant fur coat. It is currently found only in the northern part of the U.S. and in Canada. If you wish to learn more about the fisher, you can find a wealth of information by going to www.google.com and doing a search for Martes Pennanti. Those who wish to see and hear more about the fisher attack on the OwlCam nest may do so by clicking the empty nest box in this picture.
June's
mourning period did not last for long. She was back the next day with this
large shrew dangling from her beak as she hooted for Ward until he
responded with the variation of his monkey call normally reserved for the
mating season. It is supposed to be the male that entices the female with
prey during their mating ritual, but in this case June appeared to be more
eager to start a new family than Ward. It is late in the season for that,
but in Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey, Bent reports
that barred owls have produced as many as three replacement clutches when
eggs are destroyed. Each replacement took three to four weeks, so that
they would have been 9 to 12 weeks behind schedule. This would result in
owlets leaving the nest in mid-August, and leave them little time to
prepare for a fall departure from the territory. Only time will tell, but
both Ward and June could be heard in what sounded like a mating ritual
again on the 19th. I will provide updates when there are significant
activities to report.