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

• Nest discovered: March 11th
• First Family Portrait of Fuzz Ball and its Mom: May 5th
• Fuzz Ball Falls Out of Real Nest: May 15th
• Fuzz Ball Dies: May 26th

Videos (links for email subscribers)

• Fuzz Ball on its real nest
• Fuzz Ball Gets Fed (new nest)
• Fuzz Ball Explores (yesterday)
• Fuzz Ball Falls (yesterday)

At 7:00 this morning I visited Fuzz Ball. I cheered when I realized the young owl was now starting to branch! (chair?). The sooner the little guy gets back up high in a white pine tree the better.  Here is an image from my morning visit.

Later this morning before heading out to an appointment, I visited Fuzz Ball again. I wanted to measure the distance from the owl platform nest I had constructed to a white pine with some branches which is near by. Could I build a “branch” between the two pines?

Fuzz Ball was not in its new nest! I scanned its white pine and the nearby tree. No Fuzz Ball. Oh my word, what had happened? I first feared a predator had caught my little friend, but the parent owls always seem to be watching. After a few minutes I saw Fuzz Ball on the ground about 50 yards distant. I investigated.  The young owl was not injured but was still not able to fly. I wondered if I placed the owlet in the pine with branches would it now be able to climb up high. Here is Fuzz Ball on the ground.

Unfortunately I discovered that not only can Fuzz Ball not yet fly, but the thin branches  on the nearby pine tree were also problematic. I placed the owlet twice directly on a branch, and watched in dismay as it promptly got into trouble and fell again  … twice. Eventually I returned Fuzz Ball to its manufactured nest. All is quiet once more in the forest, but here are two photos taken moments before the owlet’s second fall. Once again, I had placed FuzzBall directly on the branch.

Here are two videos from this morning.

• Fuzz Ball on the Ground (video link)
• Fuzz Ball Falls (video link)

As a fyi, Great Horned Owls often nest in locations where it is impossible to branch. The owlets must fly when they venture forth for the first time. I have seen nests with owlets under bridges, in barn rafters, and in the crooks of cactus trees. None of these owlets had branches upon which to explore.