We were not ready to be branchers
Fashionable headgear in case Mom attacks
Oops. This is not where I went
Ferns add so much to our decor
“They are NOT pets!”
Breakfast
I have a rat tail caught in my beak
We love to snuggle
First view of Mom on nest with owlet
First Owlet down being returned to nest
Do not even think about taking my rats!
We like our new home. February 27, 2014
Sleepy time
Catching some rays
Breakfast Yummy
Yummy leftovers!
Sibling owlet being deposited above
A bit wary
Twinkle toes fell to ground while being fed by Mom this morning 7 am
We are too sure about this brancher business
In the garden again
Passing inspection
Standing up in original nest
Mm begins another journey, this time across land instead of the marsh
I look like I am singing, but I am not.
This is NOT what I expected on my inaugural fledge!
Hanging on too long???
Trying to nap up here before I figure out how I am going to get down for dinner.
Foster parent, Dale , tries one more time to put me in a tree…
Debbie demonstrates how to hold the owlet for examination
Marsh Owl
Not my best morning
Standing up in original nest
This is really, really not looking good…
Ok Back in the tree, sort of.
View from back garden to tall pines
I do!!!
Snuggled into the nook to keep warm. We even have a leftover mouse!
We like our new home. February 27, 2014
Mom feeds Big Sib first
Waiting for the tide to go out?
Is MiniMe looking a bit forlorn to you?
Finally! On the The ISLAND!
Too bad my foster parent cannot fly as well as she can paddle
Mom watching from the tall pines
MiniMe hanging out in the Cedar Tree Wednesday afternoon
Tide is coming in fast
Very wary when feeding the kids
Do not even think about taking my rats!
A bit wary
One parent always on watch
Uh oh. There’s a moat…
I hope Mom and Dad know I am up here….
I have a rat tail caught in my beak
Marsh view from the rear
We are getting hungry
Rats!
I swear I do not know where MiniMe is
What do owlets eat?
Next time could we please get a roof?
Yay! For MiniMe!
Chiin’ in the new ‘hood
Hangin in the rain in our first nest
We are too sure about this brancher business
Nancy texts me
And there is more….
The tide is out but no one is giving me any advice or directions. There does not appear to be any ferry service….
All I get is the blank stare
I am just taking a snooze
I don’t know why I am in the marsh again
What next?
Someone PLEASE call 911
I am caught….
Morning showers all wet close up
I have something caught in my gizzard
Back together again. Well close enough.
Where is the ground?
Bamboo pole
Ditto
An owlet on good behavior: Big Sib in tree
Uh oh, I must have fallen asleep and missed the tide
Dad keeping warm on back porch during owlet watch.
hanging out in cedar tree
No. I do not want to go back in the tree
Where is MiniMe?
Our back garden Live Oaks
Waiting for the tide to go out
Does the phrase “sitting duck” apply here?
Not me either!
Don’t think I can make it
Expelling Owl Pellet
Three owlet pellets
Pardon my rear
Moving back to nook
Sleepy after all the commotion
Rainy day on the marsh
So much to explain…
I am going to need a bigger ladder
Is that what I thing it is?
Looks like my foster parent
Swan dive
Sleepy time
Dad with one owlet
Recovering from near fatal swim
OMG
Tall pines on high marsh island. Parent Hangout
Parent watching over the journey
I complied
MiniMe hears its Mother’s call
We were not ready to be branchers
Finally, someone that knows what they are doing
Sun setting, getting close to feeding time
It didn’t last long……….
Cedar Tree on easement
I am fine.
Posing politely for photos
Back in the tree? After that long journey? Crap. Déjà vu all over again..
I am all wet and SALTY!
One owlet is thriving
Uh oh…this can’t be good
Control the talons first, then the beak. Wear gloves.
Meanwhile Big Sib is still comfortably in the Live Oak tree near our garden
Supervising the photo shoot
Guess Hoo?
Could she at least wait until we’re done with hair and makeup?
Can’t wait to get my big boy/girl feathers
Ladder goes back up to the nest tree
Expelling a pellet
Even my petticoat is getting fluffy again
Am I getting tan yet?
Twinkle toes fell to ground while being fed by Mom this morning 7 am
Parent in tall pine can’t even watch!
And this tree comes with breakfast!
I am compacting, not singing
What took you so long to come find me?
Same photo, zoomed in
i should probably just get in without a fuss
This is not where I went
Hi Mom!
Where is MY rat? I am still waiting…..
Mom arrives with dinner, a cedar waxwing
We really do not want to talk to you right now
First view of Mom on nest with owlet
I am trying! Really trying….
I don’t know if I can make it…again…
Passing inspection
The WHOLE rat????
Being inspected for injury
The Box
It was not a good night…
Once in the box, it lets go of my red glove
Makes the crossing to The ISLAND
White Ibis Gathering
Snuggling and so happy the Tinkle Toes did not go exploring again. And then getting stuck!
And more…
OMG
I feel a nap coming on
Catching some rays
Getting harassed by other birds just trying to look after my kids.
I am so depressed I am going to stay in bed and eat worms
Hide and Seek in the trees…
I am feeling much better now
Zeroing in on the kids
Oops. This is not where I went
Fashionable headgear in case Mom attacks
Early morning breakfast delivery
Free fallin’
My what big feet I have!
Journey to The ISLAND
All dry from the front
What happened Sunday night?
My Big Sibling is on The ISLAND!
Asking for divine intervention?
Getting back to dry land
The sun feels so good!
Hide and Seek
Life is good!
??????????????????????
Warmest, best spot
And more…
Expelling pellet. Now what do I do with this thing?
I COULD cilmb back up, but….
MiniMe is heading back to the marsh!
Big Foot is right overhead above me
First morning on the island
Debbie retrieves MiniMe
I have changed my mind about going to The ISLAND
I am a wood owl, NOT a shore bird…Pluff Mud? Are you serious?
MiniMe looks dreadful. And hurt. In the early morning…
Back in the nest tree
What took you so long?
Basking in the sun photo op
Great Horned Owlets
Sibling owlet being deposited above
Clumsy. Clumsy. Clumsy.
Happy Feet
i can barely hang on. I really want to be a marsh owl.
Getting closer
Trying to escape foster parent
NO. I will be fine. Don’t worry…
Marsh trek rest
MM in lichen tree and sees a familiar face
Exploring the garden
I can explain…
I seriously thought we done with the ladder work
Am I getting tan yet?
I am really high up here!
Using wings to get through tall spartina grass
Beginning to dry out
I’m coming MM
Maybe I should reconsider the cedar tree…
Tide is coming in, can’t get back to high ground
Catching some rays
My wing feathers are developing, I looking more like Mom everyday
Trying out the second floor
Exploring the second floor, using wings to balance.
it is a very, very long story
Oops caught
Snuggled in our new home
On the hunt early Wednesday morning
Ferns add so much to our decor
Settling into our new digs
I am in big trouble here
A Hard to spot adult parent on the near watch
Crossing the mercy
Feeing safer
Tide coming in fast
Uh oh that wing is going to knock me out of the tree!
Carrying ‘bucket’ owlet up past other owlet
And I stay here almost all night
Falle owlet placed on branch above Klingon
From a distance it is hard to tell Mm from stumps
Debbie Mauney retrieves the owlet from the box so she can examine it for injuries
Don’t eat!!!
Looking for our parents
Afternoon nap on the 2nd floor
This may take a while…
Why the parent owl on watch is hard to spot
Dad is watching over us
Made it across!
MiniMe is hard to find
Trying to make dinner when all I want to do is observe the owlets and their dinner
Photo Op!
Peek!
Parent on ‘the perch’.
Hiding in the Cedar Tree
Early morning sunshine after our breakfast
An Owlet on not good behavior: MiniMe on favorite place – the ground
This is why it took me so long. Finding an owlet in the marsh is not as easy as it seems
So embarrassing. Kind of like that squirrel thing. My tide clock was off a bit too…
White Ibis Preening
It was another long,…really… long…night
Thanks, I’ve got this now…
Me? I wasn’t doing anything…..
Exploring the big blue pot
Tuesday morning so, so pitiful
Getting ready to go back in a tree
uh oh.
“They are NOT pets!”
MiniMe looks dreadful
Waking Up
Really???
Checking on kids from the pines
Looking rather lion like
Back-in-the-box!
Good morning peek-a-boo
I am very, very weary…
STILL waiting, watching for Mom (and/or Dad). Do not even think about cuddling up to me after you ate the WHOLE thing!
Almost done
MiniMe is squawking in the marsh
…
This not what HF told me about the marsh and the tide and…
First Owlet down being returned to nest
Yummy leftovers!
Discovering my new home
After exam
Vanessa Kauffmann photographing the owlets
Early morning hunting
compacting
Code Red Owlet Down February 22
I am on a mission to find my parents or breakfast…
I am hungry!!!
I cannot keep as a pet ;-(
I had a very rough morning…
My big sib is just sitting there watching, right above me!
Breakfast
I know I got UP here……
Prey of the day and corresponding owlet pellets
Drying out and feeling better
And this tree comes with breakfast!
Ready for our close up!
Dad and Steve at Flight demonstration Center for Birds of Prey
Recovering on the ground after near fatal sswim
I am determined to be a marsh owlet
I STILL do not want to come home…
Precarious ladder position into thin air
My parent is watching over me…
Hanging out on the 2nd floor
Two owlets restored to River Birch tree branches.
No, but you are bigger than me..
Seriously, do NOT tell me what to do!
I cover box with blanket to hopefully settle it down
We love to snuggle
All dry
It was a very long night
Recovering on the ground after near fatal drowning
I swear
In the garden again
It’s cold today!
Breakfast Yummy
Sunday afternoon snooze
Similar to what we find beneath the nest area. (Photo from owloasis)
Hmmmmmm……..
One owlet or two?
2nd Floor outlook, when is dinner?
What took those humans so long to get me back up here?
Are we done yet?
Parent can’t even watch this time!
It was a really long, interesting journey. I can totally relate to the Geico Gecko…
I can not get loose
In the marsh, natural GPS?
I am trying to let go, but…