| Last night marked a significant milestone for the owl family. One owl could no longer meet the growing appetites of the owlets and June was forced to start hunting. This creates some risk for the two-week-old owlets by leaving them alone and vulnerable to potential predators. June, however, had no choice. Ward was unable to make any daylight deliveries yesterday and the owlets were going hungry. June stopped by to check on the owlets every thirty minutes or so, but usually did not enter the nest. The top picture shows Theodore joining June yesterday to look up at the crows that had just chased her into the nest. The lower picture shows how much Wally and Theodore have grown, along with the darker feathers that are emerging to replace their white down. Wally is just over seven inches long and Theodore is about six inches. Wally walked/stumbled over to the side of the nest this morning and attempted to swallow a whole mouse. June helped him out as he tried to drag it back under her wing. Only two of the five mice that they started the day with remained at 10am, so that more daylight hunting is likely today. It is raining outside the nest box and June is now struggling to confine Wally and Theodore under her wings as she feeds them. | So
That's a Crow
|
| Home
Alone III
|
Back To: May Activity Calendar