Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Texas Barn Owls

I have become addicted to a bird web cam. My drug of choice is the Texas barn owls available through Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/42/Barn_Owls/
You can also follow them on Twitter (official)  and YouTube (there's official and viewer content).

When I first discovered the cam, early June, all four owlets were hatched. They all still had down, none had branched, and the youngest was very small and immature. As of a couple days ago all have fledged! I've learned so much and believe it is great family entertainment.

They still associate the nest with feeding so they hang around the vicinity of the nest box during their nightly fly arounds. Plus, they continue to roost there during the day. It's strange how a group of strangers have come together to cheer on both the small and large accomplishments of 4 little birds and to worry about them as well. This was probably helped by the fact that the youngest was a bit of a runt having had a lean start and no one was sure he was going to make it.

Here are some photos from Twitter (they are not all mine):


Their home

Sometimes it seems they know they are being watched

Huddled together sleeping
 

The day a female wood duck landed on the nest box and then snooped around. the owlets were on alert for the stranger!
Mid July when all had branch but the youngest had yet to fledge
 

Mid June waiting for someone to feed them
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Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Secret Santa - Eddie

Eddie was in a gift exchange on Katie Scarlet & Co, a social networking of pet lovers. He got a SS gift from Texas and sent one to Kentucky.

Even with pushy Diamond in the way, Eddie managed to grab a package from the box and carry it off to open.



 After he open the first one, a stuffed rat that he LOVES, he was back at the box looking for more.

 This time he picked out something that smelled yummy. They looked so yummy I almost tried one!

Eddie is eating his cookie, notice all the crumbs, and sticking near his rat.


More gift carnage.


I tried stacking up his gifts for a photo op but he jumped up to grab a bully stick :)


Finally, boy enjoying his Christmas haul. Thank you Addison!