An owl adventure

For the last two years, we had a pair of nesting barred owls in our yard.  It has been so fun to watch them and hear them regularly during the nesting season.  It's amazing too how comfortable they are in a neighborhood with all the sights and sounds of kids playing, lawn mowing, cars, etc.  We were glad to start seeing the owls again in the early spring (first sighting on March 19) calling to each other and hanging out together.  In April, we started only seeing one, suspecting that the female was sitting on a nest.  They chose a nesting box in our next door neighbor's yard both years- interestingly enough, one that was in a little bit of disrepair and was missing the roof.  It turns out that barred owls like a box design with only 1/4 roof, so it was the perfect spot!  A sighting of the male bringing food to the box confirmed our suspicions.  By early May, we could hear young inside the box begging for food.  We had one really interesting night where I think we watched them hunting and bringing food to the box for hours.  They seemed to be very good hunters and were quiet and stealthy bringing their deliveries to the nest.

Beginning on May 17, we had a pretty significant weather event with lots of rain, high winds, and flooding.  It ended up raining pretty hard for nearly 3 days and winds were extremely gusty out of the north, which means they were a lot colder.  On a Monday morning in the middle of the storm, our neighbor called us first thing and said that his box fell off the tree and to the ground.  We immediately went over and found an owlet seeking shelter under the remains of the now broken nesting box.  He was reasonably protected, but the ground was very wet and there was enough of a chill in the air.  We called in some extra advice and decided that we would build a makeshift nest for Owlet to get him/her off the ground and back up safely in the tree.  I knew from my experience interning with a wildlife rehabilitation center in New Jersey that putting nestlings in a basket (with drainage) near the original nest site is the best way to reunite them with the parents.  As much as we want to help, parental care is the number 1 best option for all wildlife.  The parental instinct to feed and care is so strong that often they can overcome their hesitancy about the new nesting situation.  It's also a myth that birds will abandon their young if people touch them- most birds do not have a sense of smell (the turkey vulture is the exception to find carrion) and can't "smell"/tell that their young have been handled.  We gathered the needed materials for the nest and went back over for the operation, and Owlet was right where we left him.

The makeshift nest consisted of pine boughs in the bottom of a dollar store basket that I use for garden tool storage bungee-ed into Scott's tree stand that he uses for hunting.  We set it up about 10 feet up the tree in the pouring rain, and put a wooden roof overhead and a wooden platform in front of the basket.  It looked pretty good.  I knew when I went to get Owlet that would be an important moment.  If he fought me to protect himself, he likely was in good health, so as much as I love owls, I knew that's the preferred way this could go.  If he was lethargic, the situation could have been more serious.  I donned some gloves and picked him up to place in a box for the ride up the ladder to the tree stand and luckily he was very lively flapping his wings and biting me.  Aside from being a little wet, he seemed fine.  The parents were also still in the area and watching us intently.  We placed him up in his new nest and he sat quietly there for the rest of the day, occasionally shaking himself dry under his new roof and preening his feathers.  The most important aspect of the operation was that the parents needed to accept the makeshift nest and come back to feed, as he was still entirely dependent on their care.  We saw the parents around, but did not catch them coming to feed.  I also didn't hear them when I went out with Teddy before bed.  

The next morning, I went out right away and confirmed Owlet was in the nest.  He seemed very alert and watched me watch him with my binoculars from a reasonable distance.  I set up the spotting scope inside to watch the nest while I ate breakfast, and just happened to catch the parent silently come to the nest with food.  YES!  I knew this was a very good sign for the little Owlet.  He spent the rest of the day in his basket nest, just looking around and watching the world go by.  On the third morning, he was still there and just as alert.  As we again watched him while having breakfast, Scott noted that he was standing up on the edge of the basket and was worried he would fall.  Next, he was out of the basket and on the platform.  Next he awkwardly flew down to the ground!  This also was a great sign.  Owlet left the nest under his own power this time, which meant he was ready to fledge.  This is a critical time in the life cycle of a young bird when they are mobile enough to leave the nest and explore but cannot fly yet.  We watched him walk all around, climb logs, and explore his surroundings.  As you can imagine, this is a dangerous time for young birds because they cannot fly away from danger and instinctively stay quiet and hide to protect themselves.  The parents still provide constant care and will still feed him for a few more weeks as he learns his way.  We have been seeing less and less of the owl family now as they move away from their nesting site.  We hope Owlet is enjoying his new freedom!  And we'll be helping to build a new nesting box if they decide to come back next year.

Parent bringing a mole to the nest on May 6.  Photo by Scott.

Owlet's box fell during a spring storm on May 18, but he knew to stay inside!

Photo by Scott.

Appearing a little ruffled, but unharmed and lively during return to the makeshift nest.  Photo by Scott.

Owlet's new temporary home in the same tree.  Owlet curiously watched the photographer.  Photo by Scott.

Grainy photo through the window when parent came by to feed at the makeshift nest during early morning on May 19.  

Owlet decides it's time to go on May 20, this time he leaves under his own power!  Photo by Scott.

The remnants of Owlet's temporary nest, including poo near the bottom of the photo, a regurgitated pellet near the top, and bird parts throughout.