The Audubon Societies 



311 



THE BABY BARRED OWLS 



When I was walking along Rock Creek, April 16, I was surprised to see a 

 big Owl fly from a hole in a large cottonwood. I climbed up a pole that was 

 leaning against the tree and looked into the hole that was about a foot deep. 

 There were two white eggs nearly ^^as big as hens' eggs. 



On April 23 I came again and_.there were still eggs. On May 8 there were 

 two funny, downy, fuzz}', white^babies. The biggest had her eyes open but 

 the' other one had his shut. The mother Owl tiew out of the hole this time, but 

 we did not see her later. 



' mil m mB^mmm^%3ki 



TWO BABY BARRED OWLS, ONE SOLEMN, THE OTHER SNAPPING ITS BILL 

 Photographed by Margaret M. Nice 



On May 21 the biggest snapped her bill and acted as if she were trying to 

 protect her little brother, who only squeaked. 



On June 6, when I got up to the hole, the biggest one started to climb up 

 to me, snapping her bill. I had one hand in and one holding to the bark and 

 I didn't like to turn toward the Owl. I could not fight, so had to shake. She 

 came out and flew to the ground. I let the other one down with a rope. My 

 mother took their pictures. They were barred now instead of white and their 

 eyes were blue. When I drew them up again the little one caught but I pushed 

 him loose. I never will take them again. — Constance Ely Nice (age 9 years, 

 fifth grade), Norman, Okla. 



[It is commonly believed that all Owls have yellow eyes, but here is a case where the 

 young Owls had blue eyes. Who knows the color of the adult Barred Owl's eyes?^ 

 A. A. A.l 



