Six Images entitled: "Pre-Fledge Exercises"

Note: Both Owlets have now successfully fledged. Today they were both high up in trees being fed by Mom. The following images complete the series on the Owlets preparing to leave the nest.

Top Image: Once Big Sister discovered how to jump to one of the top branches below the nest, there was no stopping her. Here she prepares to jump back to the nest with Little Brother finally having learned to get out of the way.


A safe landing.


Now back to the branch.


Another safe landing.


Caught in mid-air.


A final safe landing completes the current exercises.


Note: Big Sister left the nest the evening of May 12. She reportedly initially flew to a lower branch of an adjacent tree, then on the morning of May 13 we found it on the ground at the base of a large tree. From there she walked to a nearby fallen dead tree and climbed to one of its upward pointing branches. Yesterday we saw her flying from branch to branch some 10 meters above ground. Today she was way up in a pine tree where Mom was feeding it a Squirrel.

Little Brother reportedly left the nest the evening of may 14. He also reportedly initially flew to a lower branch of a nearby tree. The next morning, I found it on a lower branch of the nest tree. Today, he was perched on a branch about 10 meters above the ground close to the tree where Mom was feeding Big Sister. Both Owlets appeared to be in good condition and both will no doubt soon be too high up in the trees for good photo-ops.

Time to look for Warblers now.

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