A Quiet Evening In The Straw
A young barn owl crouches low against a mat of dry straw, its downy chest catching the amber glow of the setting sun.
Coiled around its talons lies a long training lead, anchored firmly to the barn floor.
A few paces away, an older owl perches motionless along an open wooden rail, watching the open yard outside.
Heavy work boots scrape against the threshold as a woman in denim overalls steps inside the doorway.
She moves at a measured pace, keeping her weight balanced and her arms lowered to avoid startling the young raptor.
Her leather-gloved hands come forward as she drops slowly onto one knee across the scattered hay.
Working At The Jesses
The young bird blinks, turning its heart-shaped white face toward the woman as she settles beside its perch.
She extends both gloved fingers toward the dark leather band wrapping the bird’s lower leg.
Her thumbs work against the metal fastener, working the pin loose without jerking the limb.
The bird shifts its weight from one foot to the other, lifting its wing tips slightly to keep its balance on the uneven floor.
She slides the buckle free, gathering the coiled cord into her palm so it will not catch against the owl’s claws.
Her fingers ease the leather strap completely off the feathered leg, dropping the hardware down into the straw.
The owl takes a single forward step, extending its toes across the bare dry ground.
Taking To The Air
The caretaker draws her hands back to her lap and remains kneeling in place.
For several seconds, the young owl stands alone, bobbing its head in short, calculated circles to measure the space above.
It spreads its pale wings wide, catching the breeze flowing through the open barn entrance.
With two hard beats against the air, the bird kicks off from the dirt floor and rises toward the exposed rafters.
Its flight is smooth and nearly soundless as it clears the stacked bales of hay lining the wall.
It curves its trajectory toward the horizontal timber near the opening where the sun is dipping beneath the horizon.
Side By Side In The Sunset
The young owl lands directly on the wooden crossbeam beside the older bird, its claws gripping the worn timber.
The older owl turns its head, leaning inward as the newcomer tucks its primary feathers neatly against its flanks.
The caretaker watches from the straw below as both white-faced birds line up on the rail, facing out toward the open fields.
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