Baby Owl on a Tree Day Od the Dead
In Quest of the Owls
Past Genie Dibble (Page ane of 3)
Chron"owl"ogical Order:
Jump 2000 - Quite past blow I stumbled upon 2 baby Great Horned Owls. Two days prior to this, I was in that area when the 2 parents flew into a tree straight in front of where I was standing and stayed there to lookout man me until I had taken my fill of pictures and moved on. I must take been very close to the babies that day, but didn't have a clue. Of course I went back to the same area the following yr expecting to have the same experience, all to no avail. 2002 was the yr of our next feel...
Monday, March 11th 2002 - Urgent e-mail message from Marcy "Genie Genie Genie - OWLS ALIVE AND WELL, I heard male calling and female answering. Saw him in hemlock on old growth trail."
Tuesday March twelfth 2002 - I walked afterward piece of work, saw Marcy'due south car when I came downwards at v:thirty, it was almost dark, I left note on car something about needing a flashlight. She emailed me subsequently, she had seen the female owl further down the quondam growth trail toward Round Lake.
Wednesday March 13 2002- Walk with Marcy - Nosotros heard the owls telephone call as we came down Hernia Loma bypass - 2 or 3 calls, so total silence. Much disappointment, simply she said "well, I'll testify you where I saw him Monday nighttime". We walked a few more than steps down the path, stood looking upwards at the height of an old semi-expressionless maple, where a squirrel was cavorting effectually on an upper limb. Of a sudden with stealth and gusto, out of nowhere, an adult owl flew into what we later on discovered to be a hollow at the top of that tree, and disappeared within. We were filled with elation - A myriad of " Did y'all see that?" " I tin't believe information technology" etc. etc. WE HAD Plant THE NEST! (Strange co-incidence, information technology is the same tree that had the swarm of honey bees that Ted, Freddy & I saw dorsum 5 years or and then ago) For some weeks we had been looking in tree tops, checking out annihilation that might resemble the future domicile of owls. Probably near of these were actually squirrel's nests. Simply here we were, quite past happenstance, at the correct place at the right time, and our search was over. The search was over, simply it was only the first of another couple of month'south worth of time and free energy spent pending the nativity of little owl babes... many daily and about-time vigils.
Saturday March 16 -Another walk in the park - Marcy finds the much searched for owl pellets under tree used as a perch further up loma from the "owl nest tree". I scooped upward one and stuck it in my pocket to take dwelling house for closer scrutiny and examination every bit to it'southward contents. This met with some--"Ooooooooooh HOW GROSS! how could y'all bear upon it?" etc. etc. I didn't fifty-fifty think twice about it, guess I will never be a "proper lady"!
March 17 2002- Crows harassing owl in Hemlock. (mama or papa - whoever was in the Hemlock continuing guard of the nest.) They seem to take bully please in pestering the living day lights out of the owl, who seems to exist fairly oblivious to them for the almost function, just a temporary badgerer. They soon lose interest and leave but every bit suddenly as they came. Still we found that they will get out a bit quicker if we give out a few loud blasts of angry shouts.
March 20 2002 - Marcy saw silhouette of owl in roosting tree, beneath which were the pellets. Subsequent walks for the rest of calendar month, some with thou kids who too got to run into 1 of the adults fly - with crows bringing up the rear.
Wed Apr ten 2002 - THE BLESSED Effect-HAS COME TO PASS - Marcy sees the baby owls, states that they look just like a cartoon - the two of them sittin' there watching the world get past. This e-post was read with much excitement. The next day of work adequately dragged, all I could think of was getting up to what by now had go our home away from domicile. We were both always very conscientious when the runners and walkers came past the path, to not requite whatever indication that we were there with any intent or purpose. This was our big undercover, not for the rest of the earth to know... at to the lowest degree non yet.
April 11 2002 - With flashlight and some Andy's candies in knapsack we visit our owl tree and observed. We accept great delight that they are "our" owls. As I mentioned but before, many many people walk, run, jog etc. upward and down the hill trail and lower Old Growth trail, oblivious to the fact that the nest and owlets are correct over their heads. It was a skillful thing we had the flashlight, as we stayed out til 9PM. Marcy introduced me to the antics of the woodcocks on our render.
April 12 2002- 2 trips to owls; afternoon and again at night, many pictures.
Apr 13 2002 - Zack & I accept a trip upwardly to see the babies - rainy solar day. Still got some shots of the immature'uns peeking out of their home in the hollow of the tree, their little eyes fixated on us and our every move.
April xv 2002 - I had quite a surprise when I paid my nightly visit. The owls were out of nest - one was at the end of a limb, the other just atop the snarly knob at top of hollow. I kept hoping that Marcy would happen by, but she probably had been up earlier in the day.
April 16 2002 - Owlets back in nest, must be very tired from previous nighttime's excursion. Small steps for man, but large steps for "Infant Owl-Kind", or something like that. Too much time spent in the woods staring up into the acme of a very loftier tree, I recall information technology'southward affecting my brain.
April 17 2002 - Shawnee and I get up to our tree - Not a single owlet in sight. Information technology appears they take left the nest. I scout the immediate area of the woods, then find a log and have our picnic lunch. It's a very hot day for Apr - in the 80's. Despite Shawn'due south protests that she is well-nigh beingness eaten alive past all kinds of bugs and flies, and near to laissez passer out from the heat, I decide to check merely a bit higher upwardly in the forest, an area of many quondam logs in various stages of decay and moss covered, and equally I'm thinking to myself that it's very much like the ane where I stumbled upon the owlets 2 years ago up on Brookside-Cliff- area, I spot the fledgling. I took several pictures then had Shawnee come upwardly and see it.
That nighttime Marcy & I render to the surface area - didn't run across it right away, and then Marcy spots it on a log but beyond where it had been that afternoon, trying desperately to hug the log and remain invisible. It'south getting very nighttime, he almost appears to fall asleep and autumn onto it'southward face up - merely a ploy I suspect. We leave, and the rain starts.... sprinkles at first and so a downwardly cascade; thunder and lightening and the whole works. The brighter the lightening and the louder the crash of thunder amidst the pouring rain, a devil may care attitude surfaced in the two of united states of america, laughing and joking like high school kids. We made our style up into the campground, happy that upwards to that point nosotros hadn't been struck by lightening. The thunder past that time was travelling further from us, but still some very bright, bright streaks of lightening, illuminating the clouds, actually very beautiful.
Th Apr xviii 2002 - More great opportunities for pictures, very all-around picayune owl. Information technology had moved to a pocket-sized sapling and once again I relived that experience of 2 years ago, sitting within 3 or feet of owlet, staring into each other's eyes and souls.
Concurrently nosotros discover the 2d owlet is withal safe and sound in the nest.
April 24th 2002 - "Houston, Nosotros have a Problem - Owl Afraid to Fly"
April 30 2002 - I observe the "Stay at Dwelling house - I similar my nest" owlet far out on co-operative. I decided to go support in woods and look around a bit, and when I came back downwards it had found its way back almost to the nest. It saw me downwards there and very hurriedly scurried dorsum to the outer limits of the branch again, as if to say "here I am over again-- don't exit yet."
AND Then
May 1st 2002 - the nest appears to have finally been abandoned, so the search is on. I spent some time all to no avail. Freddy called on jail cell phone to say that Marcy was on her manner over to the park, and so I hung around til she arrived. We went to an surface area where I strongly felt information technology could be, with a little assistance from those pesky crows tending to pb me in that location in their constant endeavour to harass the mama.
Marcy seems to be the lucky charm. Nosotros examine a tree with tell-tale signs, which obviously has been a roosting place for the parent owl, and simply the other side of this tree in a pocket-size sapling, I spot our illusive second fledgling, which at showtime glance didn't even resemble an owl, but peradventure an opossum or some object but hanging in the tree, so " THERE IT IS". It immune usa to get very shut without any prove of fright or aggression; no chattering or snapping of mouth or raised wings.
Suddenly the crows reappeared and revealed the location of the mama, who was looking straight at me, ears raised and her piercing eyes glued on me. She had the states both in view, all lined up, and I could have been the perfect target! The baby was virtually iv feet behind me. I would first take a picture of "mama' and turn and shoot pictures of the fledgling. It 'south hard to put into words the feeling that I was experiencing at that moment - the realization that here we are this close to the infant, and the mama has come to trust the states. In all of these past weeks from March 13 til now, she has been scrutinizing and watching us as we take been watching them. A common participation type game. One await at those talons (even the talons of the baby owl) and you realize what impairment and havoc they could create if they so chose. It's simply another 1 of those magical / mystical facts of humans and the interaction with nature, in this example a raptor, simply this scenario translates into a rapture.
Sat May fourth 2002 - Beautiful sunny day, found an owlet in top of tree but non sure which 1 it was - suspect it was the offset one out of the nest, just tin't be sure. Not quite certain if the last one out could fly up so high so soon. Pictures of it sort of reinforce the idea of information technology beingness the #1 owl out. Early on, Marcy said that one would exist chosen Marcy and other 1 Genie. Well, I'1000 not sure which of us was way up at that place on that limb, but she sure did look "handsome"! While I was enjoying my lunch, a yogurt and a beer - a great tiffin, on a nearby downed log in view of the owlet, the crows arrived, cawing and hooting and hollering (actually no hoots) - but a loud ruckus and commotion. They buzzed her/him -she sort of flinched the first couple of passes, and then very aptly flew into some other nearby tree to rubber. Then I commenced to tell the crows what I thought of them, and with all the dissonance I could muster yelled at them to go their sad butts out of there. Seemed to work, or they just tired of information technology all and left. I tend to call back it was the latter as I doubt my voice carried much college than my ain height or stance, and I am pretty brusque.
May 11th 2002 - Marcy and I spent the afternoon walking, spotting a myriad of birds in the fields and forest. Checked in on the owl's woods. Marcy beginning saw an owl wing out of one tree into some other. Then a second and 3rd owl took flight to some other tree, but it appeared that they of a sudden realized that information technology was u.s., and they no longer took flight. Instead, they maintained their position in their perch, again "watching us".
As of this writing, I feel they are pretty much free spirits, only to be seen over again past chance encounters. Just it has been quite an adventure; blessed comes to mind. Nosotros've been afforded a rare privilege, shared by only a very few, being able to go so close to these cute birds of prey, seemingly gaining their confidence, and I am very appreciative of the experience and I know Marcy feels the same manner. In a way there is a sense of sadness, to take "lost bear upon", but information technology had go an obsession. I know I found myself gravitating to them, in hopes of maybe a amend photo opportunity, though I had fantabulous opportunities, far improve than I could always have dreamed of having.
We take since attempted an owl cruise subsequently dark to hear them calling, but our first effort proved to exist unsuccessful. We plan to keep trying, undaunted by i failure. Afterwards all it was a flake cold that nighttime. Whatever 1 who will spend some 68 days tirelessly and feverishly trekking to the park keeping the constant vigil volition never surrender that hands. I retrieve we are both Rare Birds and will forever remain vigilant. AND, I dare say, that next twelvemonth, God willing, nosotros will both be looking over again for a new family of owls.
Page updated 2008-xi-12
Source: https://www.owlpages.com/owls/articles.php?a=74
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