April 14, 2014:Owls and Water Birds
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)
![apr 13 1904 parent owl](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_13_1904_parent_owl.jpg)
Mom or dad
![apr 13 1906 mama owl](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_13_1906_mama_owl.jpg)
Watching me
![apr 13 1922 parent owl](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_13_1922_parent_owl.jpg)
I walked closer to her tree to get a better shot
![apr 13 1933 parent](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_13_1933_parent.jpg)
Another view
![apr 13 1944 parent barred owl](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_13_1944_parent_barred_owl.jpg)
April 14 morning: Morning birds fishing for breakfast. A blue heron
and wood stork
![apr 14 1954 blue heron wood stork](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1954_blue_heron_wood_stork.jpg)
Intereseting combination: Blue heron, wood stork and Anhinga
![apr 14 1957 blue heron wood stork anhinga](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1957_blue_heron_wood_stork_anhinga.jpg)
Stork and Heron
![apr 14 1961 blue heron wood stork](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1961_blue_heron_wood_stork.jpg)
Reflections of a wood stork
![apr 14 1966 wood stork reflection](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1966_wood_stork_reflection.jpg)
Then walking to the nest. Here is the baby - perched high about me - maybe
10 meters
![apr 14 1972 baby barred owl](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1972_baby_barred_owl.jpg)
Looking at me
![apr 14 1978 baby barred owl](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1978_baby_barred_owl.jpg)
She is turning around - and using her wings for balance - a reflex?
![apr 14 1980 baby barred owl turning](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1980_baby_barred_owl_turning.jpg)
More balancing practice
![apr 14 1984 turning](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1984_turning.jpg)
Mom (or dad) watching
![apr 14 1986 mama barred owl](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1986_mama_barred_owl.jpg)
ONe last attempt at balance - on 1 leg
![apr 14 1987 baby turning balance reflex](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1987_baby_turning_balance_reflex.jpg)
Now in her new position - looking down at me
![apr 14 1990 new perch upside down](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1990_new_perch_upside_down.jpg)
From a different angle
![apr 14 1996 watching me](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_1996_watching_me.jpg)
While mom watches
![apr 14 2000 mama barred owl](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2000_mama_barred_owl.jpg)
Now back to the lake and watch the birds hunt for breakfast. A blue
heron that just caught a fish
![apr 14 2007 blue heron breakfast](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2007_blue_heron_breakfast.jpg)
I spooked her so she is flying away - with fish in her mouth
![apr 14 2009 blue heron flying breakfast](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2009_blue_heron_flying_breakfast.jpg)
A wood stork - hunting
![apr 14 2010 wood stork](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2010_wood_stork.jpg)
Duke, Wood stork and Snowy Egret
![apr 14 2017 three birds](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2017_three_birds.jpg)
Snowy Egret and Wood Stork
![apr 14 2021 snowy egret wood stork](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2021_snowy_egret_wood_stork.jpg)
Duck flying in - as stork and egret watch
![apr 14 2022 wood stork snowy egret](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2022_wood_stork_snowy_egret.jpg)
Stork, Ducks and Heron
![apr 14 2031 wood stork blue heron 6 ducklets](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2031_wood_stork_blue_heron_6_ducklets.jpg)
The blue heron caught a fish - and the stork is thinking what to do
![apr 14 2036 wood stork blue heron with breakfast](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2036_wood_stork_blue_heron_with_breakfast.jpg)
The blue heron does not wait around and takes off
![apr 14 2038 flying fish](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2038_flying_fish.jpg)
And the wood stork also does a little takeoff manouver
![apr 14 2043 wood stork takeoff](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2043_wood_stork_takeoff.jpg)
Large blue heron, Snowy Egret and Wood Stork
![apr 14 2080 snowy egret blue heron wood stork](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2080_snowy_egret_blue_heron_wood_stork.jpg)
The wood stork caught a small fish
![apr 14 2110 wood stork breakfast fish](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2110_wood_stork_breakfast_fish.jpg)
Another view
![apr 14 2176 wood stork fish](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2176_wood_stork_fish.jpg)
Reflections of a wood stork
![apr 14 2214 wood stork reflection](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2214_wood_stork_reflection.jpg)
Hunting
![apr 14 2225 two birds](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2225_two_birds.jpg)
More reflections
![apr 14 2245 wood stork reflection](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2245_wood_stork_reflection.jpg)
Blue heron
![apr 14 2275 blue heron](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/apr_14_2275_blue_heron.jpg)