Part 5 – Tales From the Nest

4/14 – 4/16 – The last three days have been unproductive for photographing our owl family.  It has been rainy and windy, with winds gusting up to 44 mph, and temperatures fluctuating from 43° to 73°.  Our normally unpredictable St. Louis weather has been doing it’s utmost to live up to it’s reputation, and the birds have been laying low in the nest.

 They are learning to use those things connected to their shoulders

4/17 – The weather has finally abated and the babies are moving around in the nest this morning.  As I watch their antics (much preening, wing stretching) they demonstrate a newfound skill (a form of owl etiquette)--hopping up onto the side of the nest to defecate over the edge.  

 Humans aren't the only ones who follow the rules of etiquette

There is also much hopping from one side of the nest to the other as these little balls of down work to perfect their pouncing skills.  Suddenly, a mob of Crows flies in from the North, screaming and cawing loudly.  

Trying to figure out what those big black birds are all about

The bolder of the two babies sits up tall in the nest to see what these intruders are all about.  As they land in the trees surrounding the nest even this bold youngster disappears into the safety of the nest, but with Mamma ever watchful the babies are safe.  These visitors, however, do put an end to playtime.

 Now what's that two-legged creature with the three legged gizmo doing in the street?

4/18 – This morning I discover that another photographer has found the nest.  She was there when I arrived, with her tripod set up in the street. The babies are curious and are cautiously peering over the edge of the nest, but Mamma was not visible.  The photographer was clapping loudly to try to get the mom to sit up in the nest.  The babies were watching her, but mom was sitting tight. Little did this photographer realize that the more she clapped the tighter mom would sit.

 Is she gone yet?

Once the other photographer left, the babies started moving around in the nest.  They are getting more and more of their adult plumage.  Soon they will be nearly indistinguishable from their mom.  

Looking more and more like mom every day

I watch and photograph for a while until they retire into the nest for their nap.  They are, after all, still babies and take frequent long naps.  It’s probably a good thing for me, since I would get nothing else done if it were not for their naps.  Hmmm.....I believe I remember saying that when my children were toddlers!

Check back again soon for more Tales From The Nest.

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer