Junior was very clever in hiding the nesting cavity in 2005. He and Penelope made their nest in the very sycamore tree in which he roosts each winter. To disguise this fact, he spent the spring days roosting in a different tree clear across Killbuck Creek and up a hill. The deception was ended when the baby owls could be seen through a "window" in the hollow tree. Here, Bilbo looks out shortly before the young owls left the nest.
Aurora
The triplets emerged from the nesting cavity on May 12, 2005. Aurora, the female, was the first to leave and appeared to be perhaps a week older than her brothers.
Bilbo
The two young males followed their sister out of the cavity a few hours later.
Gandolf
Bilbo and Gandolf
Gandolf (right) was the last to leave the nest. Here he sits in his father's roosting place, which is also the entrance to the cavity, while Bilbo (left) watches.
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