 Today,
the owlets showed that they are further along than I had thought with
their ability to eat without June's help. They are shown here waiting
under the door for food, just after June left the nest at 7pm. She came
back before dark with a mouse which she dropped through the door as usual;
but this time it never reached the floor. Instead, Spencer leaped up and
grabbed it just as it left her beak. He then spent the next minute
thrusting his head back and forth as he struggled to swallow it. Much to
Penelope's dismay, he succeeded while she could only watch. Many other
deliveries followed in the next few hours, and I expect that she got her
share. Only the larger prey now require June to enter the nest and divide
them up, so that she is able to devote much of her time to hunting. Both
owlets have also stretched up toward the doorway many times today, but are
far to immature to make the climb themselves. I am, however, beginning to
suspect that these owlets might attempt an early departure from the nest. |