On Thursday evening, just after sundown, I was privileged to witness Fuzzy the Owlet’s first steps out of  the nest box.

Great view from behind: look at those claws!

I didn’t expect that Fuzzy’s first steps into the great outdoors would occur that evening, but I was wrong–I guess little owls know best.  I saw Daddy Owl swoop in front of the box, trill while carrying what looked like a dangly and juicy worm, and baby hopped right out of the nest box and onto the branch to greet Dad, the worm, and the outside world.

Dad fed the morsel of worm to Fuzzy prior to this photo.

Fuzzy walked/hopped along the branch for the next hour or so, enjoying visits from both parents and made good owly progress during the night by stretching his wings and legs.

Yikes! It’s a long way to the ground and why is that weird bird with the three eyes making smoochy noises at me?

I didn’t see Fuzzy or Dad at all on Friday, though Mama was in the neighbor’s ash tree, adjacent to my own oak tree which hosts the nest box.  Today, I didn’t see the adults until mid-day when I heard the raucous complaints from other birds, alerting everyone to the owls’ presence in my neighbor’s back tree–the same tree where Dad sometimes roosts. With my handy binoculars, I spied Mom and Dad, but no Fuzzy.  I’m guessing that Fuzzy is nearby though, considering that the parents are roosting together, which is not typical.

Additionally, one of Fuzzy’s siblings made his/her appearance today.

I think I’ll call this one Frizzy.