6pm, the first egg hatched, 29 days after it was laid. You can see that one of the shiny round eggs has expanded into a fuzzy roundish ball. Actually, it is more like 2 balls: a roundish head and a roundish body (see second photo.)We have had only brief glimpses of the little fuzzball, mainly when Mrs. Owl has gone briefly into the doorway for a look around, or as she has preened herself.
The little owlet is unable to keep itself warm for the first 10 days, and so will have to be incubated just like the remaining 2 eggs. However, it will become increasingly active. Assuming the other 2 hatch, she will soon have a bubbling nest of fuzzy popcorn to sit on, and will soon seem to look forward to the day when she can also join the incessant hunt for food.
Normal fledging occurs within 24-32 days, so we expect fledging sometime between May 22nd and 30th.
The best time to get a view of the little one(s) is dawn (6-7am CDT) or dusk (8-9pm), when Mrs. Owl typically pops into the entrance and then briefly leaves the box. Sometimes if it is a very hot day (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=73301) she sits in the entrance during the afternoon. At these times, the air temperature can do her incubation for her.
Enjoy the show.
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