I rescued a Great Horned Owlet this morning at 5:45 am!
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I have watched this family of owls since the parents first selected their nesting site in early February. I actually refer to this owlet by the name of “Tweedledum” or “Dum” for short. Why that name? It’s a long story for another day.
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Just before sunrise this morning I found this guy standing on the ground on a local hiking trail being dive bombed by a HUGE flock of crows. The owlet had been forced to the ground by the crows and was still under attack. Between me, Ma and Pa Owl … we stopped that attack. I stopped the attack on the ground. The parent owls then chased the crows away.
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My second task was to get the owl off the public trail where it would have been harmed by well meaning people later in the morning. I herded the chick into the woods … a deep thicket where it would be safe and could rest. I knew that later in the morning the owlet should recover enough strength to fly back up into a tree. I hung around till 7:15 am to insure that early morning predators like foxes or coyotes would not find my friend. Once I saw my first morning hikers through the trees, I knew the evening hunters would now be scarce and I could leave.
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Background Information: Great Horned Owlets when they first fledge are very weak flyers for many days … only able to fly 25 to 50 yards. The owlets must then rest (flight muscles are not yet strong). The crows caught my owlet at sunrise. The combination of the attacking crows and high winds was more than this chick could handle, but all is fine now (I checked later in the morning).
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Summary: I left the owlet in a safe place. Both parent owls were watching over it while the chick was on the ground. All and all … a good morning’s work! As a fyi … if you come across a situation in the woods like I did this morning. First, make certain all is well and the owl is not injured, but then just like my actions this morning, leave the owl alone! I protected the owl, but ultimately relied upon nature and the parent owls to take care of the situation.
On the Trail … Stopping the Crow attack … Herding the Owlet
When I first arrived, the owlet was NOT happy with me or the crows. In the first two images the chick is trying to scare me hoping I will go away. At this point it does not understand my presence has now stopped the crows from attacking.
Second image of the owlet trying to scare me …
This is the start of my herding process. By slowing inching forward I encouraged the owlet to leave the public hiking path for a near by thicket where I felt it would be safe. Although the woods were deserted at 5:45 am, this area would have lots of hikers in about an hour.
Both Ma and Pa Great Horned Owls landed in the trees directly above my head, but NEVER remotely threatened or dive bombed me. I think they somehow both knew I was not a threat and was helping. While the parents ignored me, they made repeated vicious attacks at the crows. One hundred percent of their attention was on the crows and driving them away. Their other owlets were in a near by tree, which was not a safe perch in terms of avoiding crow attacks (yes … the missing triplet has reappeared!!!). Here is an image of Ma on the lookout …
In the thicket of trees
The owlet is now safely settled in the thicket, which was a walk of about 100 yards.
Just looking at me … no more aggressive behavior in my direction.
The ultimate complement … the owlet went to sleep. It had had a very tough early morning. Remember, I hung around for about one hour (sitting on the ground) to insure no predators crashed this party. When I saw my first hikers of the day, I left. I was quite camouflaged where I was sitting.
Just another image of the chick checking me out …
The look an owl gives you as one hikes away. The parents were in the trees above watching out for the chick. Later in the morning I confirmed the owlet had made the flight back up into a tree. Last night was this chick’s first flight where it actually left the nesting tree. At this point its flight muscles are very, very weak. It needed rest before it could fly up into a white pine tree.
Videos
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On the trail during the crow attack (video link for email subscribers)
Note: The chick regards me as a threat at this point. I have just stopped the initital dive bombing of the crows. It is 5:45 am. The crows left the owlet alone because they were scared of me.
Down in the thicket … I am about to leave (video link for email subscribers)
Note: Everyone is calmed down, and the chick is safely in a thicket where is well off the trail and can not be seen.
End of post.
Thank you for sharing this great story and you did a wonderful job checking all points of the situation without going near or of course trying to touch him. I’ve followed “Live Owl Camera”, or LOC, on YouTube since a pair in Corona Ca. successfully laid and had her eggs hatch March 3 ‘22 and a few days after. I’m so honored to be able to follow and learn so much from a handful of smart moderators and I, like the others who were like a family and wrote in often, grew so attached to this family of GHOs! i miss them as the live cams were turned off recently, a day or two after the 2nd owlet flew to safe haven on the property of the LOC folks. We saw her being watched-over and fed by Momma and Dad. Amazing owls who were always perched nearby like you saw, as well, and I would pity the soul who tries to pick up an owlet! Parents are ferocious when need-be.
Debbie: I believe you are a new reader of this blog. Stay tuned for some upcoming posts about my local owl family. Here in the Northland our owls nest much later thatn the rest of the country. Momma Great Horned Owl is still keeping her owlets warm underneath herself. I am looking forward to the youngsters making their first appearance. Today Moms wings were mantled out to keep her young warm.
Just what we need to read in times like these. Very interesting. I found an injured female Eagle earlier this year and turned it in to the Raptor Center. Unfortunately the injured wing could not be fixed.
The best news is that the third owlet is okay!! Does he seem robust enough?
Yes! The missing triplet may be the oldest owlet. I am pretty certain this chick hatched almost a week before either of its siblings. Since I was able to confirm its presence again, this older owl seems to always perch within the trees where either Mom or Dad are located. The two younger siblings tend to stick together and do not fly around as much … yet!
This was so fascinating! Thank you so much for your efforts and sharing your adventures!
More than likely no owl update today. I’m tired after being out in the woods by 5:45 am, followed by a day full of activites including a jaunt through Sax Zim Bog arriving home at 9:30 pm. Did not see much in the Bog, but this is a good time before the leaves pop out to look for owls hunting at sunset with the need to feed hungry chicks. It’s 20F in the Bog this morning, and the low 30’s at my house near Lake Superior. Given some light clouds it’s just nice to sit at home in front of the fireplace. Hapoy birding, everyone.
That was great! So glad you were there to help out the owlette. Was so cute when he looked at you and made the clacking sound. I guess it was a warning:-)
Good for you. Amazing the parents didn’t see you as a threat. They clearly recognize you.
Wow, great story and with a happy ending too.
Thank you so much for all your photos! Have especially enjoyed the owlet stories. We are in our mid-eighties and don’t get out birding as often as we used to. We look forward to your daily offerings. Keep up the good work.