Photo and text by Roeselien Raimond @roeselienraimond | Years ago, a photographer offered me a chance to come watch his little owls. Needless to say, this was an offer I couldn’t refuse. This friend has a farm and the little owls had been living in his pear tree for a decade. Every year they successfully bred and every spring, the family was delighted with around 3-5 new owlets. I was there right on time and although this year there was only one chick born, I couldn’t wait to see it. Never had I seen little owls before. The friend had told me so many stories about the youngsters, learning to hunt, how they hug each other, how they practice flying by funny wing flapping. I was about to witness this little owl-miracle! So every morning I went up very, very early. I climbed in the very narrow hide and waited patiently…. One hour, two hours…5 hours….. But the little owlet didn’t show up. I think it must have been on the 2nd day, that it showed its oh-so-cute face through the hole in the nest. I couldn’t believe my luck…there it was!!! And it was just a matter of time before I would really get to see it! So I repeated my getting-up-early-and waiting for hours ritual every morning and I even added the evening sessions. I spent 5 days (and at least 30 hours) in solitary confinement. (Did I already mention I’m a rather mobile person who hates small spaces?) . . The most exciting thing that happened was the little owl peeking at me through the nest opening, a few minutes a day. Because there was nothing left to do, I decided to film it and back in my room, I watched this film and noticed the owl was sneezing. I asked my friend and owl expert if sneezing was normal for an owlet. And then all things went fast: he took the baby from the nest and brought it to the vet, who diagnosed the poor thing with a heavy respiratory infection. That was why it never flew out, it was too sick to move! Fortunately the little owl fully recovered. I’ve never seen it, as I had already left when it came back. So I had no photos, but hey, I helped to save a little owl baby! . . . #POTD #photooftheday #picoftheday #storytime #nature #wildlife #owl #babyanimals #babybird #birdsofinstagram

discoveryさん(@discovery)が投稿した動画 - 2017/11/16 03:21:32