Night Stalkers

This picture shows June's tail as she perched briefly in the door this morning to check out some unknown sound. After satisfying herself that there was no threat, she quickly settled back down into the nest and resumed her incubating. Such was not the case last night, when a pair of raccoons engaged in an extremely loud and protracted battle near the nest box. June bolted up into this position and remained poised to defend her nest for almost twenty minutes. Her concern was obvious as her claws dug loudly into the wood. Finally, Ward's hoot could be heard in the distance as he approach the nest. June greeted him with some wild hoots and settled back down into the nest to incubate her eggs. Ward remained perched on the owl rail until the raccoons left the area. He managed only one food delivery for the rest of the night and this did not come until just after dawn. It was the first time that he has made a silent delivery (no announcement of his arrival). The crows that could be heard in the background may have been the reason.

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