Both Great Horned Owlets have fledged (flown away from the nest)! While I expected the older owlet to fledge, I was caught by surprise when the younger bird fledged the very next evening. Perhaps it did not like living in the nest alone?!
Make certain you see yesterday’s flight training post with lots of images and a video of the older owlet almost taking flight (hanging on for dear life).
Owlet #1: 31 Days Old – Fledged prior Night
Owlet #2: 31 Days Old – Will fledge early this same evening
The oldest owlet fledged (took its first flight) last night, but not before it put on a fantastic flight training demo for me yesterday! Make certain you watch both the full video, and the slow motion clip! Throughout today I tried to find where the owlet had flown, but it is not easy. Nobody puts up a sign which says “find the owlet here”. However, I kept watching one of the parent owls, and is glances told me where to look, but it took hours!
The younger owlet is still in the nest cavity, and to date this youngster has not shown much desire to branch, let along fly. Remember, the younger bird was most likely born 7+ days after the older owlet. Regardless, the older owlet made its successful first flights, and is unlikely to come back to the nest.
Great Horned Owlet Flight Training! (40 days old)
Movies (full video and slow motion clip)
And many still images from yesterday … the Amity Great Horned Owlets
Climbing / Flapping up to the Runway
Test Flight #1
Test Flight #2
Over the past few days an amazing amount of rain has fallen. Today we are experiencing 30 mph winds with 50 mph gusts off Lake Superior. The Great Horned Owlets are NOT happy with the weather, nor are their parents (or me for that matter). Here are a few images … in the final photograph you can even see rain drops dripping off the owl! Most of these photos were taken two days ago when the owlets were 37 days old (guestimate … oldest owlet is 5 to 7 days older than the younger bird). It is still raining this afternoon … Monday the 29th. I did visit the owls this morning a bit after sunrise. Other than being super wet, they are fine.
Drenched Great Horned Owlets
