By early spring of 2001 Junior, now nearly two years old, had taken over his father's territory. Without ceremony, he began to use the roost in the big sycamore tree that his father had occupied for many years. This was now his territory.
We don't know what became of his Mama. Males hold the territory and attract females to it. She probably left in search of another mate, or perhaps also succumbed to old age.
In the winter of 2000-2001, Junior took a mate. It was a rapturous night when they met and they filled the winter night with their cries as they bonded. They seemed to be fond of each other and would often call back and forth, come together, and groom each other (right). This continued through their eight years together.
In the picture above, Penelope, as we named Junior's mate, is on the left while he is on the right. Female Barred Owls are a little larger than the males and have wider, rounder tails.
Our first glimpse of their firstborn came with Penelope at the side of little "Merlin" as we called him. He was one of the smallest owl fledglings we've seen, but he grew rapidly with much attention from both parents.
Like most young male Barred Owls, little Merlin was curious from the start.
