Chris' Eastern Screech Owls cam...

[Dumpsterkitty]

Well, wherever he was, he's back now.  I think he may have just been hiding...I don't think they really come & go when they're first branching.

[dale]

jeez, Ei, that's that funny cross-eyed falcon look Mariah got sometimes.

Speaking of funny looks,

[valhalla]

The camera is so decieving that I think the missing owl was either hidden be the other one or was scrunched up under the camera.  These 2 are still (where is the cute smiley) cute!

[Dumpsterkitty]

And, for my next role...Count Chocula!

[dale]

that's so funny - Ei, you beat me to posting that by seconds.
Isn't that incredible?

[Dumpsterkitty]

that's so funny - Ei, you beat me to posting that by seconds.
Isn't that incredible?

They really can bring a smile to your face!



Hey, Stan...if we hide under this thing they'll think we BOTH took off! 
Yeah! Let's try it!

[Colleen T]

Look at those skinny legs!  They are the funniest looking creatures ever.

[Dumpsterkitty]

   Yikes!  It really won't be long now!

[Dumpsterkitty]

DUH!  The hole is on the OTHER side!  Stupid boys...never listen to directions...

[Dumpsterkitty]

DOH!  I can't watch...really...I just can't...



I mean, really!  Would YOU want to go out there?  Didn't think so...

[dale]

I tried...

[valhalla]

I'm going to miss these guys - love the faces!   

[dale]

Chris writes:

May 20 – [3:02 AM] I brought the owl’s nest box down early this morning and attached the owlet rail outside the entry/exit hole. This was done in anticipation of the eldest owlet leaving the nest soon, and in the expectation that having a perch outside the hole must make that critical leap from nest to tree easier.  This also gave me an opportunity to open the nest box and take some family portraits.

Eldest Owlet.http://gargravarr.cc.utexas.edu/owl/2010/20100520/_MG_0039.jpg
Youngest Owlet, badly photographed. http://gargravarr.cc.utexas.edu/owl/2010/20100520/_MG_0012.jpg
Owl Box on Ground with Owlet Rail Installed. http://gargravarr.cc.utexas.edu/owl/2010/20100520/_MG_0003.jpg
 
There’s a paper towel temporarily to stuffed into the entry/exit hole to calm the owlets, but, otherwise, the box looks much the same once it’s been returned to its rightful place in the tree.
Needless to say, this threat to the nest and owlets resulted in repeated attacks by the adults, from which my scalp probably carries a good number of scratches, all well-deserved. And all in a good cause.

[1:21 AM] Here’re the promised photos of the adults. Don’t ask me which is the male and which is the female – unless I was lucky enough to observe sexually distinctive behavior (like tearing up prey and feeding it to the owlets, which only the female will do), there’s no way for me to know.

Adult One http://gargravarr.cc.utexas.edu/owl/2010/20100520/_MG_0077.jpg
Adult Two http://gargravarr.cc.utexas.edu/owl/2010/20100520/_MG_0085.jpg

Alternately, if both owls suddenly took leave of their senses and let me get hold of them, I might be able to determine their sex by weighing them, because females are generally heavier than males. However, there’s some overlap of their normal weight ranges, so even weighing them doesn’t guarantee an answer. Fortunately, somehow, the owls have it all figured-out.

[valhalla]

Chris writes:
Needless to say, this threat to the nest and owlets resulted in repeated attacks by the adults, from which my scalp probably carries a good number of scratches, all well-deserved. And all in a good cause.

Chris needs an Rfalconcam hardhat!  If we sell this (question to our marketing folks  ), I'll be happy to buy one for Chris! 

[Donna]

Wow...cool pics of the Owl family. One brave guy for sure...getting scalped!  Thanks dale.