[obol] LEWO's

[Kevin Smith]

I arrived at the Entrada Burn this morning at about 7AM and crawled into 
(or maybe more correctly pulled over my 'cloak of invisibility') and 
settled in for a nice morning shoot of one of the LEWO boxes.  Little 
did I know how exciting today would be!  The usual baby head showed up 
and I began--Mom & Dad (who know which?) started bringing in food, now a 
mix between bugs and berries. Each parent brings only one type of food 
be it bugs or berries.  Boy! The oldest of the nestlings is getting 
BIG!  Sticking his head and shoulders out now.  I can see both feet clearly.

WHOOPS!!  THERE IT GOES!  Right over my head and GONE!!  Number One has 
just fledged!  That was QUICK!  Did I get a photo of that?  (Yes I did, 
but it is out of focus. Dang!)  Too early and not enough light to bump 
the shutter speed up to 1/800th yet.  OK. Now for Number Two.

With #1 gone the next in line can actually put forth it's head in to the 
dazzling sunlight.  A slightly different coloration.  Maybe just that it 
is a bit younger?  Now THIS one is getting bolder.
Head AND shoulders out of the nest.  Then one foot out, one foot in.  
Now BOTH feet out.  (Somebody aught to write a song about that ;-) )  
WHOOPS!  Now it is out of the box, but still holding tight to the bark 
on the outside of the box (Good thinking you guys-designers of the 
boxes).  But what's THIS?  Mom's back with some FOOD!  How do I EAT with 
her standing RIGHT THERE?  Got to get back INSIDE.  There That's 
better.  Now I can stick my head out of the box and get some food.  This 
was the case for another hour or so.  In. OUT. IN. OUT!  Over and over 
again.

WOW!  Here comes a cicada!   BUZZZZZZZZZZZ  But it is IN the MOUTH of a 
parent!  Right over my head and on to a branch--POUND, POUND, SQUISH, 
SQUISH!  NOW it's quiet, AND in two pieces.  Much better to swallow than 
before.  Won't go buzz in a tiny tummy.

HEY!  Back at the nest #2 is now out of the nest box and looking 
upward.  Climbing. Over the rooftop.  On to the tree.  Up. Up. Up!  
Fifteen feet or more.  Opps! A limb.  How do I navigate THIS?  Just a 
bit more slippery than inside the box.  Oh.  Almost lost it that time.  
Dig the claws in some more.  That's better.  The world looks kind'a 
funny upside down.  High enough to spread my wings and FLYYYYYYYYY!! 

Two GONE!

How about #3??  I sat for another half-hour under my cammo-blanket 
photographing the youngster getting fed and Pop cleaning diapers (I 
think it's Dad.  Who knows for sure?).  Marrion, do I have some photos 
for YOU!  This one is noticeably smaller and duller in color that the 
other two.  Maybe another few days or maybe tomorrow it will join it's 
siblings.  Time to go.

See you again NEXT year.  What FUN!

Kevin

-- 
Kevin Smith
Crooked River Ranch, Oregon

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