From Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Our second owlet has fledged! The younger of Athena’s two owlets took the leap this morning and started its newest adventure with a little window shopping at our Shop & Gallery.
Now that both owlets have officially left the nest (the first fledged on May 18), they’ll spend the next several weeks close to home, strengthening their wings, practicing short flights, and learning to hunt - all under the guidance of their parents. Typically, Athena will gather them both in one tree for easier care. Fledglings take around five weeks to master longer, sustained flight.
If you’re visiting the gardens, keep an eye out - you might spot one of Athena’s young perched nearby or following her lead among the trees.
hoo?
Hoo’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know’s on third.
I’m just trying to find out the name of the owl on first base.
When you pay off the first baseman every month, Hoo gets the money.
I don’t know!
Domo arigato!
I was thinking the older Kilroy, with its beak poking over the wall’s edge.
The Styx one is equally good!
Yeah, I got it, I was just watching something about Styx and that whole thing came up again so it popped in mind first. But yes, the actual drawing is much more apt.
That’s what a naval submarine inspector looks like? ORLY?
I got to check out a decommissioned sub last year. I always heard it was “snug” but my dimensions and those of a sub’s interior are not compatible! I could not imagine sleeping or eating there, let alone working and having traffic going both ways or mechanical smells and human smells and all that. Much credit to those who can do that for a living!
Ditto. I used to think it was a fascinating career path — when I was child-sized (and blithely unaware of myriad sociopolitical comorbitities), but now? Oh, helllll nah. 🫣
