After going out shooting today one of my neighbors called me that an owl or hawk was on the ground in their yard. Within 2 minutes I was at their place to find a fledgling horned owl in the flower bed. I got in touch with an animal rescue thinking the bird was hurt. They came checked the bird and returned it to a perch in their yard. Well now we see MOMma how looks like a box car with wings and another baby. A couple of hours later my other friend called the bird was in the middle of the road. We were able to get it from harms way with momma looking on being carful not to have momma attack. I got to speak to an owl expert that explained it is not uncommon for baby owls to spend some ground time learning to fly. I will now check regularly tonight to make sure baby stays from harms way!
It's called "branching." Young owls, especially Great Horned Owls, leave the nest before they can fly. The parents still feed and protect the kids and, unless they wander into a road, the kids are usually fine. The young owls can climb back up into trees, and even fly short distances. It's best to leave them alone unless, as you found, they have wandered into a road.
Every year, healthy, well-fed young GHOWs are turned into raptor rehab services by folks who think the young birds have been "abandoned." Unless the kids can be returned to where they were before the parents give up, the young birds will probably die, or spend their lives in captivity. It's very hard for humans to teach young birds to hunt.
Happy to report both young are still in the wild. I have spoken with all in the area who might come in contact with them to leave them alone unless they wander into the road. I am checking the road regularly to make sure we don't have an problem. Looks like we have a happy healthy family.
I think it's more like "they OUTGROW the nest before they can fly". Baby GHO's are huge, and 2 don't fit in the nest for very long.
Great that you helped these guys out. Let's hope they learn to fly well before neighbor cats find them.
I watched mom take down a rabbit at dawn today. She is no doubt feeding the young. Happy to report the locals are keeping their house pet in or leashed. The entire area is keeping an eye out for the young to ensure no harm comes to them.
Mike, Thanks for sharing these photos. My favorite is "baby safe in tree." I am a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator and we often get baby GHOs who are not truly orphaned. We always go to the place they were found and look for the nest/mom/siblings. There are times when we have to raise them, and they usually do very well, especially if we put them with a surrogate mom. We do eventually release them back to the wild, after we're sure that they can hunt on their own. But it is always much, much better for them to be with mom. Unfortunately, fledging birds of many species end up as toys for cats who are kept outdoors.
Again, lovely photos and thanks for sharing.
Michele
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12 repliesMike
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- Luke
Every year, healthy, well-fed young GHOWs are turned into raptor rehab services by folks who think the young birds have been "abandoned." Unless the kids can be returned to where they were before the parents give up, the young birds will probably die, or spend their lives in captivity. It's very hard for humans to teach young birds to hunt.
Happy to report both young are still in the wild. I have spoken with all in the area who might come in contact with them to leave them alone unless they wander into the road. I am checking the road regularly to make sure we don't have an problem. Looks like we have a happy healthy family.
Mike
Great that you helped these guys out. Let's hope they learn to fly well before neighbor cats find them.
Sandy r
Again, lovely photos and thanks for sharing.
Michele