| Wally perching in the doorway -- Theodore
reaching up to bite his tail -- Ward calling from the owl rail with crows swarming around
him. This was the scene at 6:30 this morning. It was Wally's third visit to the doorway in
the past twenty four hours and it proves that motivation and not ability are keeping him
in the nest box. After about five minutes, Ward decided that this was not the time for
Wally to emerge and let him climb back down into the nest box. To my surprise, it seems to
be Ward rather than June who is playing the primary role in getting the young owls out of
the nest. The action started yesterday when, after days of half- hearted efforts, Wally
showed that he could reach the doorway in a single, graceful, wing-assisted leap. He
finally did this for the first time in response to repeated calling from both Ward and
June. He seemed highly uneasy and went back in after about five minutes. Ward was flying
around just outside the nest for much of the time. In today's visit, Ward perched on the
owl rail and stuck his head in to urge Wally out. Theodore seemed highly nervous about
being left alone, but did not repeat his frogman act this time. |
|
