♥ Pepper Stays In ♥

Just when you think you have it almost figured out - wham - these two owls tend to change things somehow, someway! Shall we start at the beginning of the evening: Live stream wasn't on until 10:34pm. (obviously don't know what went on before that time). Salt was on the front branch and Pepper on the owlbox roof. 10:47pm Pepper goes into the box. Salt decided to stay out on the branches until 1:51am when he decides to visit Pepper, mate and out the door at 1:53am. Salt back on side branch at 2:13, goes to front branch at 3:34am; then in the box and mate, gone again! This goes on the rest of the morning until 5am, when he finally brings a pocket gopher (first and last seen this night). Now here's the strange part: They did not mate, Pepper waited with gopher in beak; Salt takes off and Pepper right after him with gopher still in beak!! Not the first time she has done this, as you know, if you've been reading the blog. Kinda mind boggling, isn't it?  Okay, yes I do have a problem with my thoughts running off at times. Back to the events...both return at 5:24am., they mate on front branch, then go to box roof. 5:26 Mr. Salt is gone again, Pepper stays put, but at 5:54am she returns to the inside! Again she is looking around the box for food, scratches floor a bit and breaks up some pellets. Yep, here we are again waiting with Pepper for that Salty to bring some food, he returns at 6:23am on side branch and NO food. A minute later he's gone and her behind him. Now we are really nervous, going to get light before you know it...Holy Moly 6:34 and Pepper is back in the box♥ Looking around for food, sits on perch; no sign of Salt, she gets down and moves to center of box. Now, it is getting light out, she is intently listening for Salt. Will she stay or bolt....we ask ourselves...gosh she makes you just as nervous as she seems. Poor girl does not look comfortable being here. We wait until close to 7:30am to announce her staying, in hopes of video coming back on later. Well thank you Mark, inside cam back on. Pictures are taken, she is standing at the back of the box, we get to enjoy just seeing her in the box and in her pretty feather colors. We do not have sound, so it was a real shocker to see her bolt out of the box at 2:05pm. Something definitely spooked her. Wish I knew what. So, don't expect her to be back until tonight...sigh!
 



 


 



I imagine some of you would like to know what's next on Salt and Pepper's agenda. Well, I can't exactly answer that; but I will be able to share with you what 
to expect if they are on schedule. Also, I am looking into trying to answer Tara's question about 'just how much control over her own body Pepper has'. That is a tough one, but I am working on it! Not much research done on them. This blog for today is finished, I will have all the rest in tomorrows...please stay tuned.