Sunday, October 16, 2011

Good Morning All!

Thanks for the great pictures Judy! The chicks are growing up so fast aren't they? Mom often sits on the edge of the nest to feed them so they all have plenty of room. She is leaving them alone at nightime a lot more as well.




2:39am- Mom is feeding the chicks and looks up for a second. Wing over edge is her trademark! She sure is pretty!

It's quiet at the nest today. Mom is spending time with the chicks and also doing a lot of preening. It looks like it's a little windy there as Mom's feathers are blowing in the breeze at times.

4:36pm- Chicks tucked under Mom's breast.

4:56pm- Mom is preening.

4:57pm- Mom is shielding the chicks from the sun and wind.

5:44pm- Mom hops up on edge of planter.

5:44pm- Looks around and then flies off.

5:45pm- Chicks snuggle together. Notice the darker feathers starting to come in.... not just a fluffly ball of white anymore!

Tracy posted this on their blog yesterday:

Day 13 and their eyes are opening...
6:30pm Central African Time:
Allan and I have just been out onto the balcony to water the plants. The plants were crying out for water, and I haven't had a chance this week to water.

I'm holding a bucket of water and Allan is covering us both with an umbrella, as we edge our way onto the balcony. Within seconds, Pot Plant Owl makes her first attempt at an attack to get us away from her chicks. She was close, but thankfully misses us.

Pappa continues the assault at us - finally landing on the roof directly above our entrance back into our bedroom. He looks down at us and then at his chicks and hoots loudly. By this time, Pot Plant Owl has flown to the neighbour's roof and is also watching closely.

I know that have approximately 5 seconds to pour as much water into the side of the nest pot as I can without watering the chicks in the process. Longer than that, I bet another fly-ib attack will occur -and this time, they may be successful.

I start pouring water into the far side of the nest pot. And that's when I notice that the bigger chick's eyes are open. Its face looks like a miniature adult owl - a wise old owl face on a tiny, fluffy, white body. Too precious for words! The chick eyes me out and snaps its beak defiantly - proof that it can definitely see what is going on. The other chick is facing the opposite direction and buries its head into its sibling's feathers.

As I type this entry, I can hear Pot Plant Owl and Pappa having a long 'conversation' outside. By now, I do believe they understand what we are doing, but I also think they expect us to just not water the plants.

This coming week will be full of action...

I'm catching up here! I'm glad to see the 2 chicks doing well. Jean, I love the scap of them snuggled together. Allan and Tracy are very brave to water their plants and face the wrath of PPO and Pappa!

Thank you Tweet for the Welcome and you're welcome for the shots I posted. I looooooooove that shot of the chicks snuggled, same as Deb! Tooooo cute!!

Great job you do GF on the nests you cover

Thanks Birdofprey and Lori! Sometimes we are lucky to catch that perfect moment!

Here's one I forgot to post this morning! It looks like Mom and chicks were posing for us!

ooooooops sorry BOP! I seen the avatar and thought of Debs so typed it hehe. She has two BE's and you only have one, now I'll watch better

awww too cute Tweet!