In early May, I came upon two Barred Owlets in Briarlake Forest Park. It was a deep, beautiful, and unexpectedly shared experience. Yet, a humorous encounter has also come from it as I've edited the photos and had an obviously-fictional dialog form in my imagination...
Owlet R: "You go first."
Owlet L: "Um...I'm not so sure about this..."
Owlet L: "Mom, are you sure about this?"
Owlet R: "He's a chicken."
Owlet L: "I am not a chicken! I'm an owl! See, I can stand up tall and stretch my wing like this!"
Owlet R: "He's a chicken."
Owlet R: "It's okay. I'll show you how it's done."
Owlet R: "Like this, see? Whoooooaaaahhhhhh....ohhhh noooo..."
Mama Owl, from a distant tree: "Boys, what are you doing down there?"
Owlet L and R: "Ummm, nothing, Mama."
Owlet L and R, to each other: "Now what do we do?"
Owlet L: "I think we're to open them
S L O W L Y..."
Owlet R: "Aaaahhh...I see, you're right...."
Owlet R, whispering: "But let's wait until tomorrow...."
The next day I returned, and one of the owlets had evidently stretched its wings and flown to a hidden branch. One, however, remained. From a distance I had the opportunity to watch him make some of those first awkward attempts at flight. If you'd like to see those photos, please click here.