Close Encounters

Or Love Is In The Air ♥

Wow what a night of excitement and suspense.  Of course it's always something with Salt and Pepper. First, I must tell you that we didn't have any video Friday night; so as you can imagine I was chomping at the bit to see what the owls were up to. Well let me tell you...

***The live stream was up probably around 7pm. I tuned in again at 7:25pm, Salt and Pep were on the branches and left at 7:27. At 7:30 Pepper was back on the side branch, Salt on the front branch. Skipping a few incidentals here; Salt goes into the box and starts scratching and cleaning house. Pepper now on front branch, at around 8:11 from the box lots of twittering (or whatever the name), Pepper in front of doorway now: noises get louder and more persistent. Finally goes into box, more sounds and at 8:20 both out. From that time all the way to 11:23pm, one or both was on the branches. At 11:23, Salt goes back in box, does a little cleaning and out at 11:32pm. Again constant one or both on the branches. 2:26am Pepper on lower side branch and Salt flies in. Pep greets him and then invites him (vocal and low stance) and we have our first mating on camera at least. They are then gone for a while. Exciting enough for you?? Oh you want more, well how about this.....

Stay Off My Turf!

Early morning, 4:50am Pepper is back. Salt is on the front branch. At 5:42am Pepper takes off after something. She returns at 5:43, immediately in defense mode and another Owl flies in and an altercation begins. My thoughts after seeing a third time is that this was another female and just letting Pep know it's her area also. Well...I never...the nerve of some Owls!!  Pepper then moves closer to Salt with a few words, and at 5:56am we have another mating session to finish out the night. We thought perhaps Pepper would come back and stay, but, she made her last quick appearance at 6:04am and left.
As you can see from the videos that we are very close to nesting now...Just waiting for Salt to bring that rodent gift... 
 










 












** Tara informs me that the live stream was before 7pm, at which time Salt wasted no time and bonded with Pepper. Also, another bonding at 7:40pm. Thank you Tara
** I also forgot to mention that (as the picture shows) no bands were on this intruder.