It is amazing how three such big owlets are able to hide. However, the nest is located high up in a white pine, and my views are  less than optimal. In addition, for the past four days it has been cold. The temperature this morning is 25F, which is the warmest by far we’ve had in days. The owls hunker down and try to keep warm. Winds have also been strong which gives a chill factor each day around zero.

However, when the sun pops out I often make the hike over to the nest. Over the past three days the owls have entered the “branching” phase of their life. While they are still ten days away from short hopping flights, the two older chicks are now willing to walk the branches near the nest (not very far). The Great Horned Owl chicks are about three feet away from the nest in this photograph.

Remember I said it has been cold. In the first image Mom is hanging out with one of her youngsters … a snow squall has just blown through the area. In the second image, two of the three chicks are just trying to stay warm.

My final images were taken during the great “murder” of crows which happened yesterday morning.  The first photo is of the Mom … the second image is the Dad. Both were enjoying some early morning sun until …

The look Mom Great Horned Owl gave me, a human, when 50+ crows are dive bombing your perch. What, me worry?

Shortly after photograph, Dad Great Horned Owl (pictured below) came flying to the rescue of Mom (this bird). The two parent owls then would fly underneath the forest canopy and decoy the crows away from the nest. The crows would never fly under the forest canopy as that is a suicidal move for them. These owls eat lots of crow. It was a very noisy morning. Try to imagine 50+ crows cawing, and even though it was long after sunrise, the two owls were hooting back and forth.

I have decided after two years of watching Momma and Poppa Owl, they need names. As they live and hunt in an area bounded by the Lester River and Amity Creek … Meet Les and Amy … shortened versions of the names of the rivers.

It’s about 7:30 am … time to hike over and wish my owls Good Morning!