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When there is a difficult decision to make, I am the biggest procrastinator around. First I think about the situation, and then I think some more. My mind processes possible outcomes, and eventually comes up with one that, ultimately, will be the path that I will take. But instead of jumping right in with both feet and dealing with it, I take a step back and ignore the situation. Eventually something usually happens to spur me into action and I take that decisive step into the territory known as "crunch time".
I reached that point this morning with what to do with my sweet Pot Plant Owl. It came to me as I sat at the window and watched the rain falling down on her already drenched feathers. Her false ear tufts almost lay flat on her head, and she looked smaller and more vulnerable faithfully protecting her eggs that, I am almost 100% sure, are not viable.
I have to respect their privacy and give Pot Plant Owl and Pappa some space. Sooner or later, PPO will realise that sitting on her eggs will not make a difference to the outcome - the eggs are not hatching. Maybe she's already come to that conclusion but is also procrastinating or ignoring the facts.
As strange as it may sound to many people, I believe that animals and birds pick up all our thoughts and feelings. And maybe, just maybe, Pot Plant Owl knows that her eggs are not viable but she wants to 'show us all' that she is still trying. I liken it to my dying grandmother hanging on for a few hours in order for her daughters to gather around her to say goodbye.
Pot Plant Owl is not going anywhere, but she needs to be given the permission to 'let go' now. The best way I can do that for her is to give her her privacy.
Regretably for you viewers, this means that if an egg doesn't hatch by Sun 14th October, we will switch the webcam off early next week. This will allow PPO to decide how she is going to handle the situation. We will obviously be here to keep an eye on her, but otherwise she won't be the focus of so many people's attention.
Will she lay eggs again this season? I honestly can't say. This is a first for us so who knows. We will keep you informed.
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I'm so sad for poor little PPO and Pappa, and for you to have to make the decision, but know you'll do what's best for them. We've been looking each day and praying to see a little baby owl. Hard to see nature take it's course sometimes isn't it? Best wishes to you in the next few days.
ReplyDeleteThat's sad but it's part of nature. So we might all learn something new, will they lay more eggs? I for one will be watching the Blog with hope for good news in the future. mandozee1888
ReplyDeleteI will keep you updated via the blog and also facebook
DeleteSo sorry that this is happening to PPO. I can imagine how she feels and surely by now knows the eggs will not hatch. We will also be watching the blog to see what happens in the near future. Good luck to the owls and to you two also....
ReplyDeleteHello Tracy and Allan.
ReplyDeleteWe're seeing nature unfold. I know you and Allan will do what is best for PPO and Pappa. By the way, I believe PPO can sense the energy that others are watching her. It is a good idea to give PPO and Pappa their privacy.
Thanks Maxi - I agree with you.
DeleteThe barn owls will lay eggs several times, I don't know if these owls are the same. If you remove the eggs would she lay again? I feel really bad about this..my heart feels heavy and I can not imagine how you must feel. I am thinking of you all.
ReplyDeleteTracey, I heard that you spoken to an expert on these owls and how late can an egg hatch up until what time? Can it be 2 or 3 weeks late and still have a chance of hatching? When do you know for sure an egg is not viable? Would you have to remove the eggs to encourage her to lay more for this season? Or would she just lay more with the non viable eggs in the nest as well? I probably am not making any sense at all but I have been away at hospital for 2 weeks and missed everything that,s been going on. Thanks. Lori
ReplyDeleteHi Lori,
DeleteFirst thing is to switch the webcam off. Then we will leave her for a while and consult a few more people. When we were at the Int. Festival of Owls, Karla asked the experts if she should remove Rusty and Iris' eggs and it was decided that yes it should be done. It proved to be the right decision. However, we are not making any decision for a while in the hope that she will fly off the nest soon, and not return to sit on the eggs for a few hours. If she does that, I think she will be saying that she has also given up. This has not happened before in 5 yrs so we are all learning here too
A hard decision to make, but all in the best interest of PPO. They are such good parents. I wish the outcome was better for them this time around. Thank you both for the opportunity to take part in viewing the every day lives of these two beautiful owls. {{{hugs}}}
ReplyDeleteThank you for your interest, Lily
DeleteTracey, thank you so much for your update. It must be extremely sad and stressful for both of you to sit,watch, and wait. I feel equally sad for PPO and Papa, who have invested a lot of time and energy into these two eggs. I have learned (after watching tons of webcams~I'm embarrassed to admit)that most females have a internal clock which tells them eggs are over-due and they react accordingly by spending less and less time on them. However, there have been a few which have incubated 3,4, 5 times longer than they needed to and that is also sad to watch. I don't pretend to understand why they do this, but they do. I am not an expert by any means, but, I doubt she will reclutch...but, to even have a chance to do that, the eggs will need to be removed as soon as possible. Sometimes a second clutch will occur if eggs are lost early during incubation, not at the end. However, I will be keeping all my fingers and toes crossed. Thanks so much for providing this cam. I have watched it daily and have thoroughly enjoyed watching these two beautiful owls!! I'm sending positive thoughts your way!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post, and the insight you have got from your webcam viewing. I have my doubts that there will be another attempt to breed this season, but I'm only guessing. Will have to wait and see.
DeleteHello! I am brand new to this webcam. I just want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to watch these owls. If these eggs are not viable, I hope this pair will have a second chance. I can think of no better way to spend a cold Indiana winter then by watching these owls!!! Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteHi Alane
DeleteThanks for watching the webcam. I'm sorry it wasn't like the past years for you because it's a whole lot of fun watching the chicks grow up. Hopefully the owls will have another successful breeding season soon.
It will be a terrible wrench to lose my constant companion, and if she does "feel" anything I hope she knows that she has not been forsaken by a fairweather friend.
ReplyDeleteI know that you, Tracy, will do what is best in all the circumstances and we couldn't ask for more.
Dear Tracy, Allen, PPO and Papa. All that hard work. So sorry. But thank you again for letting us being part of this marvelous adventure. May be they will try again. ♥
ReplyDeleteTo the PPO family (owl & human) may you come away from experience wiser for it, and ready to embark on the next new adventure. Love You All!
ReplyDeleteCpeke
Thanks Cpeke - right back at you!
DeleteI also believe that animals/wildlife pick up on our thoughts/emotions and as sad as I will be when the cam is turned off, I remind myself that this isn't about me and my feelings, but the feelings of others and it is important to give them their space/time. I hope that PPO will have another clutch but if not, it was SO wonderful to see PPO and Pappa for the time the cam was on! There aren't enough thank you's for you and Allan Tracy! You both are an absolute BLESSING to wildlife! Not going to say goodbye because goodbye's seem so finite, so, till our next hello! Many blessings and much love! Sue
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue. I agree with you that animals / wildlife pick up on thoughts and emotions. And as long as the cam remains on and focused on her, all our thoughts remain on the eggs that are not viable. I think it is adding extra pressure where there doesn't need to be any from us humans anyway. Take care and all the best til next time
DeleteWell said, Sue S.
ReplyDeleteAnytime we have an opportunity to glimpse into this special world, its a blessing and a privilege!! Animals are resilient and tho' this was not the outcome we had all wished for,including PPo and Pappa, it has been awesome all the same!!
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DeleteAwwww thank you SO much SkyGirlBlue! You are SO right! It IS a blessing and privilege! When else would we get such an up close and personal view into the Owl world, also, to have the opportunity to chat with the MOST incredible people from literally all over the world! I believe the eggs not hatching may be a blessing in disguise. Nature has it's own plan and reason for the way things unfold. Having "met" Tracy, Allen, PPO, Pappa and all I have chatted with have truly enriched my life and I am eternally grateful for any length of time I am able to do so! Please have an absolutely amazing weekend! :) Sue
ReplyDeleteDear Tracy and Allan,
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you for all you have done and will do for PPO and Pappa. I also want to thank you for sharing PPO and Pappa with us all. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn and love a part of nature that most of us would never get to experience. The hard part of all of this is that sometimes we must also experience the part of life that we don't want to, mainly that of loss and grief. I too don't want this to be true, but if it is, we must face it and then carry on. As I say this, the tears stream down my face. It is with a heavy heart that I try to face the probability that PPO's eggs will not hatch. I still am thankful for getting to see PPO and Pappa. I still have hope that I will get to watch her and Pappa raise a clutch of owlets in the future. Tracy this was my first season with you all and I have not gotten to chat with you yet, but I have met some wonderful people from all over the world and again, for that I thank you all. I wish you all peace and love as you move through these difficult days and hope for happy times in the future. Love Jeannie
Hi Jeannie
DeleteThank you for your kind words. I'm grateful that you chose to watch the webcam and sorry that I missed you on the chat. I hope that you experience a full breeding season soon. Take care, Tracy
Tracy,
DeleteI am checking back in to see what has happened since Wednesday. I am so pleased that I did get to chat with you twice before the cams and chat closed (jogulrich). My thoughts and prayers are still with you, Allen, PPO and Pappa. I look forward to having the privledge of watching PPO raise owlets in the future. Thanks again for your care and consideration for PPO and Pappa and sharing the experiences with all of us.
I believe that critters of all kind grieve just as we do. So they probably go through stages of grief, as we do. It's possible that she's in denial stage. Anyway, I wish her the best and am so sorry about the eggs. Nature is Nature - not cruel - it just seems so to us.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think PPO and Pappa are both grieving to a point. This is Nature and it's the same as a couple not being able to fall pregnant. They try again, and may very well succeed the next time around. Fingers crossed!
DeleteDear Tracy and Allan! You made a wise decision, although I'm sorry that you had to do it. Sometimes things go wrong. The same situation was in 2011 in the osprey nest at Loch of the Lowes, Scotland. This year, The Lady of the Loch, successfully raised a beautiful and healthy son - Blue 44. I hope that next year, PPO and Pappa, will once again enjoy their children. It makes no sense to argue with nature. Probably, the break in the brood is needed. I am glad that PPO and Pappa are healthy and we could see them. Big thanks and hugs to you and Allan, for all that you do for these birds. PPO fans in Poland love you. We were very happy to meet you again. Take care. Gersenda and the other users from "Ptasia Wyspa".
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. We appreciate the feedback we receive from other nests around the world because it all helps us work together. Thank you for your interest in PPO from Poland. I hope to visit your country soon.
DeleteFirst, thank you Tracy and Allan for all that you have done to help PPO and Papa safely raise their families on your balcony and for providing the world a window to watch all the action. What a disappointment this season must be to you all. Having watched (mostly lurking) since nearly the beginning of PPO's saga, I've laughed, cried, and held my breath with you all watching the hatching, playing, often touching moments in the owlets' lives. I will miss watching another clutch this season, but believe that all things happen for a good reason, whether we understand that reason or not. Perhaps Papa and PPO need a break from rearing a family, some more time to recover from all the energy expended over the last few years. Hopefully, they will be back next season, stronger than ever and ready to bring us more wonderful moments to share with each other. Until then, you are all in my thoughts. (ElfOwl49, ShortEaredOwl)
ReplyDeleteDearest Tracy and Allan,
ReplyDeleteWords cannot express my gratitude for the love and respect you have shown for PPO and Pappa. Your beautiful writing's have kept all of us (my dear friends)in touch. I know that this has not been easy as of late.
I firmly believe our feathered ones pick up on our emotions. I only wish they could transmit through the computer because I love them so.
With love, sadness and best of health to all,
Sarah/mrshb