2011 - Eastern Screech Owl Nestbox in Austin!

[Dumpsterkitty]

Testing-I guess flickr just didn't like quest's picture-the guy in the back was doing that neck stretch thing for quite a while...

[dale]

hahahahaha! he's still there now, but normal-shaped again.

this one cracks me up, from earlier. A very big head start on mugging the cam lens

[dale]

doesn't it look like they're playing Royal Court?
"Your Majesty, I beg your leave to eat a dead waxwing..."

[dale]

Two very nice feeding pictures. I've been noticing how she often shelters an owlet or owlets under her wing while feeding them. Here that's clear.

[MAK]

How sweet is that?! 

[Dumpsterkitty]

The latest from Chris-

April 21 – As you may have noticed, owlet no. 4 was not returned to the nest last night, contrary to previous plans. Its eyes still haven’t opened. Sallie tells me that it’s possible for an owlet to naturally take this long to open its eyes, but that it is increasingly unlikely for the process to take so long. Neither of us know what, if any, conclusions can be drawn from that. Obviously, it does cause concern about what condition the owlet’s eyes will be in when they do open, so Sallie wants to hang on to no. 4 until its eyes do open and we know what that condition is.

In the meantime, Sallie has acquired another owlet a few days older than no. 4, and the plan is to place him/her in the nest at the same time we return no. 4. So, there'll be a no. 5 owlet. That should be an interesting surprise for Mme. Owl. Of course, an extra owlet will place an additional strain on the adults, so we may artificially supplement their food supply by providing a mouse or two per night. The great benefit of this arrangement is that owlet no. 5 will be raised by real owls in the wild instead of by a rehabber. Rehabbers do great work, but none will deny that an owlet, or any critter, is, all things being equal, better-off being raised naturally by and with its own kind. So this is a great opportunity for no. 5, and, in the meantime, no. 4 has some company (actually no. 4 currently has at least two “screechlets� to keep him/her company).

More, including some photos, later.

[Dumpsterkitty]

Did ya hear?  They found us an EXTRA brother!  He's not here yet, but soon!

[dale]

isn't that fun? I just saw.
I hope #4's eyes are OK

[Donna]

isn't that fun? I just saw.
I hope #4's eyes are OK

I hope so too dale and yay for #5!!

[Dumpsterkitty]

      

I don't know...I SWEAR I heard some giggling coming from that thing!

[Dumpsterkitty]

Don't make me come down there!

[Donna]

Don't make me come down there!

Mom will be up there more when the other 2 get back! Oh boy!

[MAK]

isn't that fun? I just saw.
I hope #4's eyes are OK

  The eyes are the most endearing thing about these owls!

[dale]

April 22 – Sallie called to tell relay the latest information on owlet no. 4. On the 21st he/she was 63.0 grams and on the 22nd 80.9 grams. All of which is good. Unfortunately, his/her eyes haven't opened yet. The eyelids are now being treated with a long-lasting moisturizing agent intended for use on/around eyes. With luck, if there’s actually something interfering with eye opening, that’ll reduce its hold and allow the eyes to begin opening. In the meantime, Sallie is considering adding owlet no. 5 (the adoptee) to the nest ahead of the return of no. 4, just to give the adults some time to become accustomed to feeding four owlets, before they have to feed five (when no. 4 finally returns). I’ve taken some photos of owlets 4 and 5, and will make those available soon.

[dale]

owlets #4 and 5 are going to ask Sallie to take them back...I think we have a bossy one.