Great Horned Owlets - II.

The last time I saw Great Horned babies they were very small, but they have since grown and right now barely fitting in the nest.

There are three babies in the nest and they are all have different personalities.  Some are more curious and active, others are quiter.

The mother stays with her babies day and night, and the father brings food. Thus, the baby owl above was lucky to get a mouse for breakfast which it swallowed very quickly.

Generally, life is good.

In the Nest

 

The family of Great Horned Owls has lived on Antelope Island, on the Garr Ranch, for many years. This spring there is a new addition to the family - two very small owlets. 

When the young ones will be forty two weeks old they will make their first attempt to fly but it will take seventy days when they finally will learn how to do it properly.  

Meanwhile, the Owlets will stay in the nest and will be supervised by their parents who will feed them constantly day and night.  And the babies need a lot of food!

Female Great Horned Owl with her babies.

Male Great Horned Owl is watching his family from nearby tree.  He is half awake and half asleep.

It's interesting that Great Horned Owls often use existing nests built by other large birds. These nests are typically found at the tops of large deciduous trees. 

Unlike many birds, Great Horned Owl do not construct elaborate nests from scratch.

Generally, life is good.

Learning to Be Independent

The moment I spotted the juvenile Great Horned Owl, I thought there was no way I could take a photo of him.  The Owl was hidden by dense tree branches and almost was invisible.  I stayed with him for a while, talked briefly and left.

On the way back, the Owl was still in the same tree but he changed his position and no longer napped.   This juvenile Owl flew out of the nest into the world learning how to be independent.

At some point,  the parents of this young Great Horned Owl, let the fledgling know that it was time for him to hunt on his own.  

Life goes on.

Notes to Self. Young Great Horned Owlets

Every time when I am on Antelope Island I am driving to one of Bisons' barns to visit the family of Great Horned Owls and see how their young ones are doing.

The young owls (there are two of them) became pretty big, they fly easily around the barn. 

The owlets are always under the supervision of their parents, who will feed them for the next few months and protect them from danger.

This young owl unlike his sibling was awake and active during my last visit.

  

Sometimes the owlet perched on a rope hanging from the ceiling and watched me.

Generally, life is good!

Male Great Horn Owl on the Garr Ranch

 

There are two Great Horn Owls who live on the Garr Ranch, the male and female.

They usually are hiding between the branches at the top of different trees but the female hides in a such skillful way that it's almost impossible to see her at all.

The male is usually less concerned of being seen but he also prefers to stay on a safe side.

 

While walking around the tree with the hiding Owl and trying to figure out how I am going to photograph the raptor through the branches I noticed that he opened one of his eyes and wasn't anymore a sleepy Owl.  I was immensely grateful to him for that!

Well, photographing the Owl through the branches was the only option available. Not the best option but I added two more photos to my collection of Great Horn Owls and I am happy.

Generally, life is good! 

 

The Downy Great Horned Owlets on the Garr Ranch

 

The family of Great Horn Owls on the Garr Ranch is growing; there are little Owlets.  When the young ones will be forty two weeks old they will make their first attempt to fly but it will take seventy days when they finally will learn how to do it properly.  

Meanwhile, the Owlets will stay in the safe place and will be supervised by their parents who will feed them constantly day and night.  And the babies need a lot of food!

While photographing these little babies I was watched by male and female Great Horned Owls.  

I tried to be very careful and not agitate them.  The female was half asleep and half awake but the male was very alert.  The parents were hiding between branches high in the tree and were almost invisible.

Generally, life is good!

Fielding Garr Ranch

Today I spend a day on the Fielding Garr ranch, Antelope Island.

This female Great Horn Owl I found in the barn on the ranch.  I didn't notice her right away, because she was so high almost touching the ceiling with her ears.

It was so dark in the barn that no matter what I did, I couldn't get a proper exposure but somehow I got a few decent photos of this female owl.  I certainly need to use a tripod!

The male owl was sleeping outside on the tree, he curled into a gray ball. To take photos of his butt wasn't very inspiring and I left the male owl alone.

The barn I took photos of female owl.  Thankfully, there were stairs that lead to the second floor and I was able to get close to the owl.  

I walked around the Garr ranch looking at old equipment.

Thousands of years ago, the area's native people inhabited Antelope Island and founded the Fielding Garr ranch there. In modern times, the ranch house is the oldest Anglo building still standing on its original foundation in Utah.

Sleeping Beauty

I always wanted to see an owl, any owl.  I have never seen this bird in the wild. 

Yesterday I went to Garr ranch on Antelope Island determined finally to see an owl. My previous three trips to this ranch weren't successful. There weren't owls around or I didn't see them.

Luckily, yesterday I met a man who volunteers on the ranch. He gave me directions where I could find owls mentioning that I have to look up for them on the trees.  

I have never expected to see an owl on the tree. I thought they disguise themselves in the hollow of the tree.

I found two owls. One settled on the tree so high that I had to "cut" through branches to get a clear picture of him. Owl never opened his eyes.

Another owl was closer but curled in a big fat ball and never looked down at me.  But I am happy.  I believe that I photographed a male Great Horned Owl.