Orville is molting some primaries, so I’ve been keeping his weight up. So “up,” as a matter of fact, that he decided to sit on the chimney and not return. All night.
Being worried about a Great Horned owl half the night made it hard to wake at the break of dawn. But, I was out there anyway in the front yard, fish on my glove, whistling at the roof. It’s a good thing we don’t have close neighbors.
He still didn’t return, but he seemed a little more interested than the night before, giving an occasional “feed me” call.
I got a lawn chair and a book and settled in. After a two-hour vigil, I was rewarded by his reluctant return.
After a small meal, he behaved better the next day and the next. Three days after his night out, he was back to his reasonably responsive self.
I can’t recall if I mentioned the redtail attack. Orville was circling the pond when a wild hawk dove at him from trees on a hill. Orville jinked evasively, but the redtail made one successful swipe, knocking off a few back feathers.
He seemed unharmed, but his calls were slightly quieter for at least two weeks. I know this because my son measured his calls with a decibel meter daily for a class project.