Eight images entitled: "SHE DID IT!"
Whilst I was on the other side of the nest tree Big Sister (assumed) finally made the jump to the nearest top branch:hence, I missed the jump. When I got to that side, Big Sister and Little Brother were both staring down at us (Top Photo) as if to say "Did you see that?". Big Sister seemed pretty comfortable up there and in fact started to do various exercises. At times she appeared bored to just sit there and before long she seemed to want to get back to the nest. But, Little Brother, eager to join his sister got in the way and made it difficult for her to return.


A big yawn.


Here she undertakes a leisurely check of her arsenal; namely, her huge talon.


Now a leg and partial wing stretch resulting in a one-footed balancing act.


Another look at and a full-out stretch of those formidable talons.


A full-length wing stretch completes the exercises.


Little Brother, flapping his wings, shows signs of also wanting on to the branch.


Here Little Brother seems to want to back on to the branch. but, big Sister isn't about to make room

Notes:
For my next GH Owl posting I plan to show several jumps/flights of Big Sister from the nest to the branch and back. She did this quite a few times whilst Little Brother looked on.

Actually, big Sister reportedly fledged from the nest last evening (May 12). We had very high winds that night and I suspect a gust may have pushed her over the edge or off her perch. This morning (May 13) I found her sitting on the ground next to a tree. From here she eventually crawled onto a fallen log under the watchful eye of Mom who was perched high above. Big Sister seemed non the worse for wear . She readily negotiated the 20 meters or so from the base of the tree to her new and higher perch. All this time, Little Brother remained on the nest. To my knowledge he hasn't been seen on the top branches yet. I estimate Big sister to be about 5.5 to 6 weeks old at this time with Little Brother probably being a few days younger.