This is a mostly happy story of our owls, with a little bit of “awwwww” mixed in. Our adorable owls recently fledged, always a sad but proud time for us. It might have happened on Mother’s Day (we weren’t home that evening), but I think it actually happened the night before, because that night we could tell the babies were starting to lean wayyy out of their box. So that I (nor Mama Owl) don’t feel hurt, I’ll assume it was the night before Mother’s Day.
Let me show you the last few pictures we were able to get of the owls before they fledged, and then I’ll show you the big event of the day.
Taking an afternoon peek…
So used to my presence that I get to take a close-up… 
Parent leaning way out, moments from flying off…
Peekaboo pair…
Dinner time, parents hard at work…
Smushed sibling, determined to get a look outside….
The nest box has been empty for a few days now, and as usually we didn’t get to see their big venture into the “real world.” But we wished them well and knew they’d become fierce hunters in their own right.
Today, however, my neighbor contacted me to say that he found a baby owl on the ground in his yard. I wasn’t home at the time. But he watched it fly over toward our front yard, so he assumed it was fine. When I got home, I walked over to where he thought the little owl had landed, but I didn’t see any sign of it in the trees or shrubs. As my neighbor and I were talking, however, I saw what looked like an odd, round rock near the base of a tree. It was the little owl, sleeping.
Of course, it woke up when we came a little closer.
Normally, you’d let a healthy baby owl stay where it is so that mama and papa can continue to care for it. But when we looked at the little owl, we realized it was having trouble opening one eye.
We also realized that it wouldn’t stand a chance against the neighborhood cats, especially if it was staying on the ground. I called Wildlife Rescue, and they wanted us to bring it in so they could assess the eye. If it wasn’t too bad, they’d put in some antibiotic drops and have me bring it back to its parents. If the eye needed monitoring, they’d care for it until it could be released.
What a cutie, even with one eye closed!
It being the middle of the day, the sleepy little owl stayed calm while we talked quietly to it and took a few pictures.
Then it was time to get all packed up and ready to go. I brought our wildlife carrier over (yes, yes, it’s a cat carrier, but don’t tell the birds that), and we placed it close by. Then my neighbor gently guided the little owl in — it simply walked right inside. How sweet was that!
Since I had a meeting, the little owl snoozed in a dark bathroom in my house until I got back, then my friend and fellow Habitat Steward Jan and I drove him over to Wildlife Rescue. They decided the eye needed to be monitored, so we had to leave him there. Luckily, someone else had just brought in another pair of screech owl fledglings, so our little owlet will get to have other fuzzy owlets by his side. They were thawing mice to feed them as we left.
The wonderful folks at Wildlife Rescue tell me that they will try to release him near our area — something they do for raptors when possible so they are close to their original home. Maybe we’ll get to see our little buddy again someday! If not, take care, sweet little owl!
Hope the little one is going to be ok. I agree… it needs to have both eyes open to watch out for the cats. At first I thought it was just winking at you;)
I think it has a great chance, Steph. I wish its little eye wasn’t having problems, but I’m glad we have wonderful wildlife rehabilitators here in Austin. I just don’t think it would have made it without some TLC from them — between cats, foxes, coyotes, and other raptors, the odds were against the little one if we’d left it there.
Those are the cutest photos of the owls, both parents and owlets. They are irresistible when they are just a mass of fluffy gray feathers and big eyes, especially when they fill the opening to the nest box and compete for a view out, even if it’s only with one eye. Hopefully the little one with the wink will heal okay at the Wildlife Rescue.
You’ve captured some fantastic natural behaviour, and I’ve enjoyed your series showing showing the antics of the owls.
Thank you! I could watch them all day. I hope to someday get pictures of fledglings on a branch. Oh, I’d love that!
cutest pictures ever! I want to pet it. so, so sweet. I’m glad he/she is going to be ok.
It’s hard not to want to cuddle it, isn’t it, Diane? I know how you feel!
Looks like your fledgling experience is going to be better than ours. 🙂
We just have to do what we can, Katina. Not every year is going to be successful, but you sure hope for it.
How lucky that that owl was born in your yard and you have an observant neighbor. Way to go. Keep us posted on what his problem was and if he got better and was released.
I’m not sure they’ll tell me, Marilyn. But I have been their facility, and the love and dedication of the rehabilitators is above and beyond. I have complete faith that they will do everything they can to give it the best chance of a successful life.
That’s not as sad an ending as I was prepared for, so whew!
Also, “they were thawing mice” is probably the most interesting phrase I’ll see or hear all day, so thanks! 🙂
Heh, it’s the norm around here for us, Alan. We thaw mice for our snakes. It took some getting used to, I admit.
What a sweet experience… now if only I knew someone who could replace the egg that fell from the nest in the very tall tree. Don’t we all have desire to protect the little creatures that call our gardens home?
As we should, Carolyn! I hope the rest of the eggs were okay!
Love your owl photos. Those guy are just too darned cute. Any thoughts on what happened to it’s eye?
There’s no telling, but if I were to guess, it probably happened in the nest box, with siblings climbed up and over each other. It might have gotten scratched or poked pretty easily in there.
I’m glad you and your neighbor were able to save the little guy or gal. He sure is cute. How amazing that he just walked into your cat carrier. Maybe he wanted to be rescued.
I’d like to think so, Pam!