Over the past three days the remaining owlet, junior, has progressed from loving its nest to branching. Mom could not be happier! See the timeline from Cornell. Owlets branch about day #40 of their life, and fly about day #48.
Three days ago at sunrise … nest bound
Two days ago … getting braver on the nest’s edge
Yesterday evening … almost there
Sunrise this morning … six feet above the nest … branching!
Proud Momma Great Horned Owl!
After Fuzz Ball’s demise, Momma Owl has not left the nest much. This image was taken early in the afternoon two days ago. She had reached the point that she was off the nest much more than being present at home, but now she hangs tight with her other owlet. This youngster is not yet branching, which is by far the latest in the five years I have watched the two parent owls. By Memorial Day each of the other four years, the owlets were always able to fly and exploring the Lester / Amity Forest … not this year. 
Fuzz Ball wanted to be free, and this morning the little owlet flew to its maker. Yesterday the little guy decided it was time to branch, which was made difficult because its temporary nest was not in the reach of branches. Yesterday morning after two attempts at placing Fuzz Ball in a pine tree yesterday morning only to see the Great Horned Owlet fall repeatedly to the ground, I returned it to its chair nest. However, just before sunset yesterday evening once Fuzz Ball jumped again to the ground and was off to explore. I knew putting the bird back up in its temporary nest was useless. It would just jump/fall again. Instead I relocated it on the ground deep in a protected bunch of deadfall. Given the parents were hooting at me, I knew they were well aware of the owlet’s location.
This morning I went hiking at 5:15 am, but could not find FuzzBall in the protected area. After a thorough search I found the owlet 100 yards away, next to a hiking path. I left the owlet for 20 minutes to return home and get some supplies. Upon my return I discovered Fuzz Ball had become prey … I suspect for some local foxes. While sad, staying in the wild under the care of its parents was Fuzz Ball’s best opportunity to live free. Unfortunately its real nest was too high to reach safely.
It is worth reading yesterday’s blog post, Fuzz Ball falls again, and again, and again.
R.I.P. Fuzz Ball
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