Photo Adventures with Curiosity and Learning
Some observations about infant Barred Owls.
- April 5:I first saw the two babies in their tree home - both peering out at whomever was walking along the jogging path.
- April 6: I located two large barred owls - which I assume were the mom and dad - perched nearby but high and difficult to locate.
- April 7: One of the small babies was looking at me
- April 12 am: One of the babies was still in the tree home - so I took some video. The other baby had left the next and was perched on a small limb about 1 meter above the nest. While watching, she used her wing-assisted jumping skills to move from one limb to another and gradually started climbing up the tree - seemd he/she was unable to climb down - or maybe just instinct said climb up. Whatever, it appears that flapping wings is a reflect act associated with loss of balance and maybe this is how they learn to fly.
- April 13 am: The climbing owl was still resting where I left him the night before. The nesting owl - a bit more active and came out to the edge of the nest. She looking around and was not very steady - suggesting balance was not fully developed (and Jack says, perhaps nerves not myelinated yet).
- April 13 pm: The climbing baby had crossed from one tree to another still headed up. Mom and dad were still watching me. No evidence of the nesting baby. Dee says she saw it on the jogging path - but I've seen nothing to suggest she survived her fall.
- April 14 am: Mom (or dad) still watching. The climbing baby continues to climb and flap wings to maintain balance. It seems to me the babies are quite vulnerable now - cannot fly - and perched high in trees - perhaps easy for a hawk or buzzard to see???
April 13 evening: Mom (or dad)
Mom or dad
Watching me
I walked closer to her tree to get a better shot
Another view
April 14 morning: Morning birds fishing for breakfast. A blue heron and wood stork
Intereseting combination: Blue heron, wood stork and Anhinga
Stork and Heron
Reflections of a wood stork
Then walking to the nest. Here is the baby - perched high about me - maybe 10 meters
Looking at me
She is turning around - and using her wings for balance - a reflex?
More balancing practice
Mom (or dad) watching
ONe last attempt at balance - on 1 leg
Now in her new position - looking down at me
From a different angle
While mom watches
Now back to the lake and watch the birds hunt for breakfast. A blue heron that just caught a fish
I spooked her so she is flying away - with fish in her mouth
A wood stork - hunting
Duke, Wood stork and Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret and Wood Stork
Duck flying in - as stork and egret watch
Stork, Ducks and Heron
The blue heron caught a fish - and the stork is thinking what to do
The blue heron does not wait around and takes off
And the wood stork also does a little takeoff manouver
Large blue heron, Snowy Egret and Wood Stork
The wood stork caught a small fish
Another view
Reflections of a wood stork
Hunting
More reflections
Blue heron
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
C. Frank Starmer