It is April of 2005. The eggs have hatched and Junior is very busy hunting because he has five owls to feed: himself, his mate, and three hatchlings. Here he has spotted something on the forest floor and is preparing to swoop down to make the catch.
It is now May and the owlets have fledged. Junior is high in the home grove keeping a close watch over his three owlets.
The first to emerge was "Aurora." She is a female and the largest of the owlets.
Bilbo was the second to leave the nest. Here he is peering out the "window" of the nesting cavity before emerging. The window is too small for the owls to pass through but gives them a view of the world from the nest. They have to climb up inside the tree about ten feet to reach the exit.
Little Gandolf was the last to leave. He has climbed up to the entrance, which is just beneath Junior's wintertime roost.
Even with Penelope's help, Junior has to work long hours to feed and watch over his three young owls. Here he is in June, alternately catching a few winks and watching over the owlets.
