Potted Plant Owls are back in Johannesburg

[Dumpsterkitty]

Pot Plant Owl post quoted below

  21 December and the end of the world as we know it

I like to think that today, the 21st December, marks the end of the world as we know it. Now before devout religious fanatics or athiests alike get up in arms with my statement, hear me out.

I love new beginnings. A New Year where all ones past woes are left behind as one starts afresh. I love birthdays that mark another milestone in ones life. I love the dawn - the beginning of a new day unlike any other. I love the start of a new life form - a seed that grows into a magnificent tree, and a small egg that reveals a tiny chick.

And I love the idea, however far-fetched it may sound to others, that a New Dawn is beginning for us here on Earth. Right here. Right now.

We have the chance to start afresh - to look at the beauty that is all around us and appreciate it. All of you who have followed PPO and her family (for months or years) are already there. You love and appreciate Nature. You respect and admire the trials and tribulations that our owl family has gone through to be with us again today.

I'd like to believe, no, I need to believe, that others, who have not taken the time to notice the natural world around them, are waking up for the first time and starting to 'get' this thing called Life.

Life isn't about fancy cars, or lots of money, or designer shoes. Yes, those items can make living more comfortable, but they are not the real deal.

The real deal is right in front of us all. In my garden, it is in this pot plant nest where two little owl chicks are finding their feet (and soon their wings).

I like to think that today marks a new beginning - for us all.

[Wing Goose]

Well said!
 
    Lola

[AlisonL]

It's difficult to get a good look at the little ones, but today I have only seen one owlet. I am concerned that something might possibly have happened to the other owlet. I hope I am wrong; I have checked several times, and still see only one owlet moving around.

            

[Kris G.]

It's difficult to get a good look at the little ones, but today I have only seen one owlet. I am concerned that something might possibly have happened to the other owlet. I hope I am wrong; I have checked several times, and still see only one owlet moving around.

            

I just read on their FB page that little Rosie (what people were calling her) passed away this AM.   

[AlisonL]

So very sad . . . I had checked the blog, and there was no update there, but it looked as if the other little owlet was on the left of the pic. Mom came in at least twice and kept trying to get a response from the owlet, and tried to move her, then left again, looking distraught. The surviving owlet looks lost; they were always together.

[Kris G.]

So very sad . . . I had checked the blog, and there was no update there, but it looked as if the other little owlet was on the left of the pic. Mom came in at least twice and kept trying to get a response from the owlet, and tried to move her, then left again, looking distraught. The surviving owlet looks lost; they were always together.

Here is the FB posting by someone that follows the webcam:

I so sorry to see that the youngest PPO owlet suddenly took ill. Here is what I saw. It seemed fine yesterday. Then this morning it appeared to be sleeping in the back corner but did not get up all day even when PPO tried to feed it. She fretted over it between feeding the other owlet but finally at about 12:30am Wednesday(nest time) appeared to decide that it would no longer respond and carried its inert body to the front of the nest where we could see that it was no longer alive. She has moved it a couple of more times as I write this and may remove it from the nest by morning. My condolences to all the chatters who love this little owl and especially to Tracy and Allan. Rest in peace little Rosie (as some of us had taken to calling her/him) PPO appears to be taking it in stride and concentrating on caring for the remaining owlet. What a trooper!

[AlisonL]

Here is the FB posting by someone that follows the webcam:

I so sorry to see that the youngest PPO owlet suddenly took ill. Here is what I saw. It seemed fine yesterday. Then this morning it appeared to be sleeping in the back corner but did not get up all day even when PPO tried to feed it. She fretted over it between feeding the other owlet but finally at about 12:30am Wednesday(nest time) appeared to decide that it would no longer respond and carried its inert body to the front of the nest where we could see that it was no longer alive. She has moved it a couple of more times as I write this and may remove it from the nest by morning. My condolences to all the chatters who love this little owl and especially to Tracy and Allan. Rest in peace little Rosie (as some of us had taken to calling her/him) PPO appears to be taking it in stride and concentrating on caring for the remaining owlet. What a trooper!

Thank you, Kris. That is pretty much what I saw happen early Wednesday morning (nest time). Mom is looking after the surviving owlet; I saw him/her being fed, and Mom also had something to eat.

One of the owlets was larger than the other, and always seemed to be a little more active.

[Kris G.]

Here is the FB posting by someone that follows the webcam:

I so sorry to see that the youngest PPO owlet suddenly took ill. Here is what I saw. It seemed fine yesterday. Then this morning it appeared to be sleeping in the back corner but did not get up all day even when PPO tried to feed it. She fretted over it between feeding the other owlet but finally at about 12:30am Wednesday(nest time) appeared to decide that it would no longer respond and carried its inert body to the front of the nest where we could see that it was no longer alive. She has moved it a couple of more times as I write this and may remove it from the nest by morning. My condolences to all the chatters who love this little owl and especially to Tracy and Allan. Rest in peace little Rosie (as some of us had taken to calling her/him) PPO appears to be taking it in stride and concentrating on caring for the remaining owlet. What a trooper!

Thank you, Kris. That is pretty much what I saw happen early Wednesday morning (nest time). Mom is looking after the surviving owlet; I saw him/her being fed, and Mom also had something to eat.

One of the owlets was larger than the other, and always seemed to be a little more active.

You're welcome, Alison.  It's so sad to lose one-I hope the other one continues to thrive.

[Donna]

What a bummer to come on after all day and read this first! RIP little owlette! 

[Donna]

Pot Plant Owl
‎26 Dec: This morning we switched the cam off to remove the little chick who passed away. I went right up to the nest and spoke to PPO the whole time, while she watched me intently. With gloved hands, I reached out into the pot right next to PPO, and took the little chick. The other chick appears to be happy and healthy. We are not sure what happened to the chick but can only hope that the other chick is strong and survives. RIP little one.

[carla]

What a bummer to come on after all day and read this first! RIP little owlette! 

So sad....................

[AlisonL]

From the blog, a thoughtful and poignant post. I am glad that the owls are nesting in a place with such caring people.

26 Dec and our chick is buried

Last year, after much debate and thought about it, we removed an unviable egg from the nest after it became clear that it was not going to hatch. I'll never forget the feeling of calm that washed over the balcony as I stepped back inside the house with the egg in my hand. Within minutes, PPO appeared more relaxed and threw her energy and attention into preening her chicks.

The same thing happened this morning. We looked at the frail body of the dead chick in the nest, and decided to bury it for PPO. We switched the cam off and I headed out onto the balcony - without an umbrella. Carefully, I crept to the nest - all the while talking softly to PPO. PPO kept a beady eye on me, while pushing her chick under her for protection.

I crouched down right next to the nest and slowly reached out and grabbed the dead chick. PPO froze in place and kept watching me. Slowly, I backed away and closed the balcony door.

We buried the chick in our 'bird' garden - a small section of the garden fenced off to allow birds an area to eat and bath in peace. Our dog, Destin, cannot access the area, so it is a perfect spot for our chick to be buried.

We are saddened and shocked by the sudden passing of the chick. Unlike Teeny, this chick did not deteriorate slowly in front of our eyes. The chick was up and about one minute, and lying still the next. Without going into detail, the chick had a big wound which may, or may not, have been the cause of its death. I'm not sure if the chick had anything internally wrong with it.

It's difficult to lose a chick after what this breeding season has already brought. Can you imagine what it must feel like for our sweet PPO? And for Pappa?

I can only send out all my love and prayers to the remaining chick, and hope that not survives, but thrives.

RIP little one!

The blog also has a photo of Pappa and one of PPO with the surviving owlet.

http://potplantowl.blogspot.ca/

[Donna]

A wound huh? Wonder what from? 

[AlisonL]

PP Owlet is out of the nest! Earlier today, the owlet was in the nest and PPO was close by. They seemed to be having a conversation. When I checked a little later, PP Owlet was on the branch, with PPO preening him/her.

      

      

[Kris G.]

PP Owlet is out of the nest! Earlier today, the owlet was in the nest and PPO was close by. They seemed to be having a conversation. When I checked a little later, PP Owlet was on the branch, with PPO preening him/her.

      

      

Great catches!  I saw it wingersizing quite a bit last night so wondered if it wasn't going to be too much longer before it hopped out of the box!