Winter arrived in a huff as predicted, dropping temperatures for days with single digit wind chills. Just after midnight, the eso arrived back at the treehouse and without much fanfare, dropped down into the nest and stayed the night. The owl must certainly feel safe and better off than on a tree limb during this cold blast, as he was yet to depart as of mid afternoon on this day. I watched in anticipation of him leaving before dawn - the expected behavior - but after a very short visit to the perch to survey the brutally cold dark morning, he dropped back down and tucked back in. He did it again just before I published this post, but I’d bet he will head out at dusk to hunt.