Oh happy day!
As you may know from previous reports, my neighbors and I are all hooting with joy over the Great Horned Owl family in a nearby willow tree. I can't seem to get enough of this experience, so there was no question as to what my 600th subject would be. We have been watching this family grow since January, now with two babies. I took the photo of this owlet on the day when we first saw the chicks moving about the branches, spreading their wings for balance, and maybe even flying a little. To see these beautiful creatures with their Mama is such an awesome experience---she never takes her eyes off of them, each day giving them more independence, all with a motherly nurturing we share. She calls them to come for breakfast and dinner and it reminds the human mother observers of the days when we called our little ones down to eat, only we weren't serving rabbits. Tonight's crowd of owl-groupies neared 20 people, and all agree it will be very sad to see them move on, although we know that's the way it works. "hoo ooo, ca CHOO"
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/600-learning-to-fly/371230
