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The final chapter

This is the baby great horned owl that was banded on June 6th. On Tuesday night June 8th, she fell from the nest. We searched in the dark but couldn't find her. That night it stormed. We were worried if she survived the night. The following is the rest of the story.

For more pictures and the complete story, please visit: http://www.thefeather.org/411owl.htm
The next day, June 9th, she is located about 200 yards from the nest. Drenched, looking nothing like the little fluff ball 3 days earlier. She shows no signs of injuries. She is put back into the nest, where Fisher observes that day little activity coming from the basket. She probably slept most of the day. That night she jumps from the nest again.
Photo by fisher		The next day, June 9th, she is located about 200 yards from the nest. Drenched, looking nothing like the little fluff ball 3 days earlier. She shows no signs of injuries. She is put back into the nest, where Fisher observes that day little activity coming from the basket. She probably slept most of the day. That night she jumps from the nest again.
June 10th - Again she is located not far from the nest, on the ground. But Fisher leaves her there. It wasn't worth the risk of her jumping again and possibly getting injured. We hope for the best. For the next several days we have nothing but cold and drenching rain. Note - You are looking at the back of her.
Photo by fisher		June 10th - Again she is located not far from the nest, on the ground. But Fisher leaves her there. It wasn't worth the risk of her jumping again and possibly getting injured. We hope for the best. For the next several days we have nothing but cold and drenching rain. Note - You are looking at the back of her.
June 12th - We walk back in the area where she was last seen. For a couple days Fisher hears hooting and calling. Soon Mrs. Harvey makes an appearance, calling, but no one answers back. She flys to the north, leading us, we think, to the baby. Soon we are wise to this, and go back to the area where we first were looking. Again, the mother is calling and calling, but no one answers. We think maybe she lost the baby or worse yet the baby didn't make it.
P6122157.jpg		June 12th - We walk back in the area where she was last seen. For a couple days Fisher hears hooting and calling. Soon Mrs. Harvey makes an appearance, calling, but no one answers back. She flys to the north, leading us, we think, to the baby. Soon we are wise to this, and go back to the area where we first were looking. Again, the mother is calling and calling, but no one answers. We think maybe she lost the baby or worse yet the baby didn't make it.
We are about to give up, when we notice a blown down tree, stuck among some standing ones. Fisher, who is walking behind me says, This would be the perfect tree for her to walk up and get up off of the ground. As she is saying this, my eyes travel upward, and sure enough, there sits Banded 411. We could not believe it.
P6122204.jpg		We are about to give up, when we notice a blown down tree, stuck among some standing ones. Fisher, who is walking behind me says, "This would be the perfect tree for her to walk up and get up off of the ground". As she is saying this, my eyes travel upward, and sure enough, there sits Banded 411. We could not believe it.
She was all fuzzy and down again. She made it through 2 days of hard rain. The mother was sitting in back of her and called twice but did not come in near her.
P6122203.jpg		She was all fuzzy and down again. She made it through 2 days of hard rain. The mother was sitting in back of her and called twice but did not come in near her.
We shot many pictures of her in that short time. Most of them didn't turn out very good. Low light and mostly operator error! I swear I totally forgot how to operate my camera. I was so excited at finding her one more time.
P6122183.jpg		We shot many pictures of her in that short time. Most of them didn't turn out very good. Low light and mostly operator error! I swear I totally forgot how to operate my camera. I was so excited at finding her one more time.
We even left for about 5 minutes so Fisher could run back and get another camera. She was there when we returned. She made no attempt to move or leave, just looked at 2 fools probably wishing they would leave.
P6122193.jpg		We even left for about 5 minutes so Fisher could run back and get another camera. She was there when we returned. She made no attempt to move or leave, just looked at 2 fools probably wishing they would leave.
P6122216.jpg
P6122216.jpg
And this is how we left Baby 411. The final chapter for us, is the beginning for her. I'm glad I got to see her one more time. As Fisher seems to say alot lately, Learn to Let Go.
P6123393.jpg		And this is how we left Baby 411. The final chapter for us, is the beginning for her. I'm glad I got to see her one more time. As Fisher seems to say alot lately, "Learn to Let Go".

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Mark Ehlers01-Jul-2004 04:39
Tammie, you have done such a wonderful job at recording the experiences you and your crew have had with this beautiful creature! Thank you for sharing it all. I look foward to seeing more of your photowork as your experiences grow with the wild ones!

See you in the good light!

Mark Ehlers
www.wingsoflight.com
K. Krause 29-Jun-2004 03:51
What a cool story!! Thank you for bringing it to my living room. KathyK
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