The Owlery

The continuing story of a family of Great Horned Owls - by Dave Brooks

Book Seven

The time from August 2019 through March 2020, proved to be a very tough time for me and my family. And then Covid hit us all. In the past, I would hear and see the mated pair of Great Horned Owls during December and January as they prepared to mate and raise another brood of fine young owls. This winter was different. No owl sounds. No owl sightings. No owls appearing at the nesting area. Nothing. This left me with a fear that the worst had happened, that one of the mated pair had met with disaster. I was further depressed by this apparent loss. Meanwhile, the health of my family slowly but steadily improved, just as the Covid shutdown deepened. I ventured out occasionally, hoping to encounter the owls but with no real expectation of finding them, I was just wandering along as in a strange dream.

Then suddenly in mid April - there was an Owl!

April 18th, 2020, 4:02pm - This was my first sighting of the owls of 2020. I believe it’s the female due to size and prominence of her white bib. She seemed unsurprised to see me as she observed me from her perch in the treeline where her nest is located. I was really elated and energized by this encounter.

April 24th, 2020, 7:27pm - A week later and here we have both of the adults hanging out and getting ready for another night out. The owl on the left stayed in this somewhat unusual posture while grooming. By this time of year any young owls would be flying short distances by late April at the latest, I looked carefully for them and saw nothing but I felt that there were young owls about.

April 24th, 2020, 7:56pm - A half hour later and bingo, a fine young owl! Another successful year for our mated pair of Great Horned Owls.

April 24th, 2020, 8:02pm - A few minutes later and the young owl had flown a short distance to a leafy area nearby and less than twenty feet from the ground, backlit by the setting sun as it neared the horizon.

April 25th, 2020, 7:27am - The next morning finds our young owl grooming in some nice lighting.

April 28th, 2020, 7:37am - A few days later and we have our young owl branch walking with great concentration.

April 28th, 2020, 7:46am - Nine minutes later and our owl has stayed put, perhaps to enjoy the fine morning sun and a fancy shadow line to boot.

May 2nd, 2020, 5:12pm - A few days later and finally I see two young owls together! I had been wondering if there was another owlet this year as they have always had broods of two. So this marks the fourth year running with two young owls hatched and raised by this outstanding mated pair of Great Horned Owls, that I know of. This mated pair has been around here for at least several years prior to 2017 as we have heard them for many years.

May 5th, 2020, 1:26pm - As if in celebration of Cinco de Mayo I was treated to this nice pose by this beautiful pair of sibling owls.

May 5th, 2020, 1:27pm - Half a minute later they have heard my shutter and are assessing my worth.

May 5th, 2020, 1:28pm - My presence is deemed unworthy of their attention and they soon turn back to more interesting creatures, grasshoppers perhaps.

May 8th, 2020, 8:33am - I was completely concentrating on the two youngsters in this excellent morning light when they began looking up together, I presumed they were apprising a crow or a Turkey Vulture…

May 8th, 2020, 8:33am - …instead it was mom coming in to join her kids.

May 8th, 2020, 8:34am - And soon the grooming was underway.

May 12th, 2020, 4:27pm - Afternoon offers up this classic pose. Please note that I am photographing from a small park and walking trail that sees many people pass by each day and I am well back from the owls. They take notice of me and soon return to their business. If ever I notice an owl become nervous I back away quietly and quickly.