I posted this last night but see that today’s thread is up before I leave for the day with a friend, so I’ll repost it here. 🙂
For the last five weeks I have been watching a nest of great horned owls. Someone told me about it when I was walking a different part of the trail and I went looking for it. The nest is visible from the trail and over time more and more people have learned about it, so in the evenings (when they get active and when the parent eventually flies to the nest) there are sometimes 10-12 people there, many of us the same people over and over.
Two owlets have been in the nest. Owls don’t build their own nests; they claim one from last year before hawks start nesting, and what hawk is going to argue with their choice? And the babies tend to leave the nest before they can fly, sometimes by a method calling “branching,” which means walking out of the nest and walking around the branches, maybe gliding from one to another.
They also sometimes get too close to the edge, and maybe a bit too rambunctious in flapping their wings, and they fall out of the nest. But birds are lighter than mammals and aerodynamic, so they are likely to survive the fall. And God gave them strong talons and good balance, and so they walk around the forest floor until they find a leaning tree and they climb it. This process happened last night and today for one of the owlets. I saw (and heard) it fall with sticks from the nest in its talons; apparently the debris caught onto trees on the way down, since it fell in stages, falling a few feet and then a few more feet until it went all the 50-60 feet to the ground. Someone observing said he saw it on the ground and saw it pop its head up. It was dark enough I couldn’t see much and needed to get home, so I left.
This morning it was on two branches that came together maybe eight feet off the ground to form an inverted V. I drove to the park several times today (it’s just a mile from my home, so I went before and after Bible study and later for a walk with my husband) and tonight I went to watch and photograph. The owlet had moved, and it was a while before anyone saw it, but it was higher up a leaning tree.
Toward dusk one or two people saw it fly “a meter or two,” and it ended up on exactly the same place where it spent most of the day today, so it must have liked that location. I saw the parent go to the nest, but didn’t see it go to the juvenile–it probably waited till after dark to avoid alerting us to its presence if we hadn’t seen it. 🙂
I’ve seen a few owls through the years, even great horned owls occasionally, but I’ve never seen an owl nest. (I did see juvenile screech owls with their mother once, but not in a nest.) It has been really thrilling to watch, and fun to get photos.
Years ago we rented a farm house. One night one of the daughters needed the restroom, so I was taking her through the kitchen. She said, “Look, a cat on the minivan.”
I looked, but it didn’t look like a cat. It was a large white owl that flew away at that moment.
Owls are very special. So glad to hear about the nest and learn about branching, Cheryl. We have them in our neighborhood, but I have never seen one here.
That’s cool, Peter, too! A funny looking cat!
I had a big shopping morning. I went to Walmart, Sprouts, and the Farmer’s Market all within two hours. I am tired from walking with my bum knee. At least I still manage without a cane.
I had to buy a pack of safety pins at Walmart. With my poor vision, I told Art instead of a needle in a haystack, I was looking for a safety pin in Walmart. NO difference!
I love watching the owls that come by, particularly the Great Gray. Thank you for sharing your experience, Cheryl. I had no idea that these would take over a hawk’s nest! I have seen smaller owls in tree hollows. I recently watched a male grouse try to get the attention of our lone female. I haven’t seen either since but may not have been around at the right time. What fun to be able to observe nature!
My biggest plan today is to make some chokecherry jelly from juice I have had in the freezer. What blessings from the Lord, both the abundance and the blessing of studying and watching the miraculous world He designed!
Morning! It was 63 degrees this morning at 6am! But the front is coming in later and our temps will finally feel like winter again. The poor buds on the trees and the emerging perennials…
My plan is to clean, wash laundry and read. I have the house to myself until this afternoon…it’s nice and quiet!
It is 31 here right now with a wind. The sun is deceptive on these days.
I got the jelly made and a couple of loads of clothes done among other things.
My daughter, who was recently hospitalized, messaged that she drove to the library today. It is not a far drive for her. She was very happy to be able to do it. The doctors said it is up to her what she feels up to. She will see one again next week. The things you appreciate when you suddenly can’t do them for a while.
Wandering Views 
I posted this last night but see that today’s thread is up before I leave for the day with a friend, so I’ll repost it here. 🙂
For the last five weeks I have been watching a nest of great horned owls. Someone told me about it when I was walking a different part of the trail and I went looking for it. The nest is visible from the trail and over time more and more people have learned about it, so in the evenings (when they get active and when the parent eventually flies to the nest) there are sometimes 10-12 people there, many of us the same people over and over.
Two owlets have been in the nest. Owls don’t build their own nests; they claim one from last year before hawks start nesting, and what hawk is going to argue with their choice? And the babies tend to leave the nest before they can fly, sometimes by a method calling “branching,” which means walking out of the nest and walking around the branches, maybe gliding from one to another.
They also sometimes get too close to the edge, and maybe a bit too rambunctious in flapping their wings, and they fall out of the nest. But birds are lighter than mammals and aerodynamic, so they are likely to survive the fall. And God gave them strong talons and good balance, and so they walk around the forest floor until they find a leaning tree and they climb it. This process happened last night and today for one of the owlets. I saw (and heard) it fall with sticks from the nest in its talons; apparently the debris caught onto trees on the way down, since it fell in stages, falling a few feet and then a few more feet until it went all the 50-60 feet to the ground. Someone observing said he saw it on the ground and saw it pop its head up. It was dark enough I couldn’t see much and needed to get home, so I left.
This morning it was on two branches that came together maybe eight feet off the ground to form an inverted V. I drove to the park several times today (it’s just a mile from my home, so I went before and after Bible study and later for a walk with my husband) and tonight I went to watch and photograph. The owlet had moved, and it was a while before anyone saw it, but it was higher up a leaning tree.
Toward dusk one or two people saw it fly “a meter or two,” and it ended up on exactly the same place where it spent most of the day today, so it must have liked that location. I saw the parent go to the nest, but didn’t see it go to the juvenile–it probably waited till after dark to avoid alerting us to its presence if we hadn’t seen it. 🙂
I’ve seen a few owls through the years, even great horned owls occasionally, but I’ve never seen an owl nest. (I did see juvenile screech owls with their mother once, but not in a nest.) It has been really thrilling to watch, and fun to get photos.
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God’s creation is a wonderful thing.
Years ago we rented a farm house. One night one of the daughters needed the restroom, so I was taking her through the kitchen. She said, “Look, a cat on the minivan.”
I looked, but it didn’t look like a cat. It was a large white owl that flew away at that moment.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Owls are very special. So glad to hear about the nest and learn about branching, Cheryl. We have them in our neighborhood, but I have never seen one here.
That’s cool, Peter, too! A funny looking cat!
I had a big shopping morning. I went to Walmart, Sprouts, and the Farmer’s Market all within two hours. I am tired from walking with my bum knee. At least I still manage without a cane.
I had to buy a pack of safety pins at Walmart. With my poor vision, I told Art instead of a needle in a haystack, I was looking for a safety pin in Walmart. NO difference!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love watching the owls that come by, particularly the Great Gray. Thank you for sharing your experience, Cheryl. I had no idea that these would take over a hawk’s nest! I have seen smaller owls in tree hollows. I recently watched a male grouse try to get the attention of our lone female. I haven’t seen either since but may not have been around at the right time. What fun to be able to observe nature!
My biggest plan today is to make some chokecherry jelly from juice I have had in the freezer. What blessings from the Lord, both the abundance and the blessing of studying and watching the miraculous world He designed!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Morning! It was 63 degrees this morning at 6am! But the front is coming in later and our temps will finally feel like winter again. The poor buds on the trees and the emerging perennials…
My plan is to clean, wash laundry and read. I have the house to myself until this afternoon…it’s nice and quiet!
LikeLiked by 4 people
It is 31 here right now with a wind. The sun is deceptive on these days.
I got the jelly made and a couple of loads of clothes done among other things.
My daughter, who was recently hospitalized, messaged that she drove to the library today. It is not a far drive for her. She was very happy to be able to do it. The doctors said it is up to her what she feels up to. She will see one again next week. The things you appreciate when you suddenly can’t do them for a while.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Such good news about Annie, Kathaleena. It warms my heart.
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