Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Baby Owls

Great Horned Owls nest in "The Woods" behind our home. We have come to recognize their various calls, and especially the sounds made by the owlets.

A week ago we heard one screaming, and saw an adult flying from the ground as we approached. Though it was covered by underbrush, we knew a baby owl had fallen from the nest.

"Don't" my husband reminded me.

A juvenile will often leave the nest before it is fully able to fly, and must find a stump or leaning tree to climb upon to be safe from predators. The adult owl will tend to it, and we know not to interfere.

The next day we were both relieved to find it safely watching us from a leaning alder tree.

Every day it would be peering at us from a new perch.

When our grown kids came home the next weekend, I took them out to see if we could find it again. I finally spotted a lump of fuzz high in a Big Leaf Maple. Was it alive? I snapped this before it woke up.
... and then it woke up...


We concluded it must be flying a little now, to have reached this idyllic spot.


My daughter lingered a little with the camera, so enchanted by this encounter.


As she and her husband turned to leave, the baby jumped up to watch them go.