I lied! I said no more posts before heading to Lake Vermilion, but it is now four months that I have watched FuzzBall and family. I first found the nest location during a blizzard back in early March. Although I had taken a huge number of hikes in the dark listening to the evening hoot, it was when during a snowstorm I went outside on my deck and realized I could hear the Great Horned Owl parents hooting back and forth during the blizzard. The owls had to be nesting very near my house or I would not have been able to hear them over the howling wind. I took these images the next morning when the storm lessened up considerably.
Last night I had intended to just rest on the couch and then watch with Molly an episode of Alone. After all, I had been up before dawn … birded the Wisconsin Grasslands … took a 12 mile bike ride and am still even recovering from Lyme disease, but noooooo! While stretched out on the couch I kept hearing a few crows giving grief to my owl friends (remember, I speak crow). I decided the nice evening light demanded that I take an evening hike and attempt to find FuzzBall.
After a one mile walk, I did in fact find one of the two owlets (plus two other trees with new whitewash). Here are last night’s efforts.
The star of the show … the sun would set within five minutes.
Short video of the owlet (video link for email subscribers)
