We followed the sound, slowly, stopping often to get a bearing on the call. We were about to give up, when we saw the two owlets, sitting silently far above our heads.
The pair, nicely posed.
This one was a bit more active; the greyer one stayed huddled by the trunk. But they were both very interested in us; at first, this one bounced back and forth, as if trying to get a clearer view. Finally, it just settled down to watch.
According to the Owl Foundation, the young owls begin to leave the nest around 4 weeks of age, first one, then a few days later, the next. I would imagine, by this, that the one close to the trunk is probably a bit younger, and a bit timid yet.
The neck markings (cross-wise stripes) are clearly visible, and the breast stripes (vertical stripes) are just beginning to show. The head will be the last to develop adult feathers; now it almost looks as if it were wrapped in a soft baby blanket.
The adult was no longer calling. The little wood was quiet, except for the subdued clicking of our cameras.
10 minutes went by, a quarter-hour, maybe, while we tried to focus the cameras through the branches. Then, suddenly, both owlets lost interest: something was happening off to one side.
Mommy was coming!
I thought maybe she had come to feed them, but I was mistaken. She nuzzled little Brownie's ear.
These owlets didn't scream for food, nor even open their beaks, the way other young birds do; they sat still and silent on their branch the whole time.
The nuzzling was vigorous. I had to laugh; Brownie has the same pained look that a little boy gets when his parents wash his face.
After she left, Brownie did a little exultant dance for us, flapping wings, turning on the branch and fluffing up his feathers. He still made no sound.
And now, we found the mother's perch, high on a tree behind us.
She watched us until we left.
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I love your photos of the owls! What a great observation. I loved how mama was nuzzling the little dickens, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Carolyn H.
Great photos and terrific post.
ReplyDeleteCome visit,
Troy and Martha
Oh, to see such a sight! ... and get such photos! I'd have been bouncing all evening if I had such an experience.
ReplyDeleteCis;
ReplyDeleteI was bouncing all evening, too!