Owl’s Nest: Part 3

It was April 30, 2020 when two Great Horned Owl chicks left their nest located within the Old Burying Ground (see Owl’s Nest, Part 2). The above photograph is from May 2 (see “A Young Owl’s Adventure”). Huddled together on a branch of the nest tree, the two were only capable of taking short flights . They stayed in or near the ancient Live Oak tree where they spent their early months as nestlings…

The nest tree remained a home base for the young owls throughout the summer months as they continued to mature to full size. About a week after vacating the nest, this young owl was still close by.

Not much change in its plumage — still fuzzy with down feathers over much of its body. Note the downy white feathers on the head and soft ear “horns.”

Gradually, the young owls started moving into other trees, forcing me to hunt for them, which became challenging as the months passed. I assumed that during the night, they joined one or both of their parents, hunting and feeding nearby, developing their flight skills. During the day, they returned to this safe and familiar place to roost.

For most of May they remained downy in front and back. The facial disk was pronounced due to the darker cinnamon coloration, outlined in dark gray.

By late May, I noticed that the down feathers were decreasing …

Although the head of the young owl was still fuzzy white, the striping on its body feathers stood out. Not far away, the sibling was perched, turning his head all the way around to watch me.

By June, at six months of age, the youngsters seemed to be totally independent, as I no longer saw them together. Their ability to fly greater distances took them farther afield. The changes in plumage were gradual, but dramatic. This youngster had lost more down in June, especially on the back. The “horns” were slow to change…

Looks like this fellow sprouted a single feather — beginning an ear tuft …

In July, white fluffiness remained, but only in a few areas. The back was fully feathered. Well-developed flight feathers and tail feathers indicate greater flight efficiency. A small amount of white down remained, but only around the facial disk and above the eyes. The white bib was more pronounced.

The summer heat was disturbing to this young owl, who perched with wings stretched downward, a technique birds commonly use to cool off…

In August, I noticed a substantial change in appearance. “Horns” had developed on the head in the form of a few long feathers. The top of the head no longer was downy…

By September, this young owl, about nine months old, was beginning to resemble an adult. The white “bib” was larger, as were the “horns” with only a few remnants of facial down.

This owl seems very mature, doesn’t it? But it’s not. For comparison, check out the plumage on their mother, photographed in June…

The adult owl is much darker overall, compared to the more cinnamon-colored juvenile. Note how detailed the patterning is on its feathers. The “horns” were huge and made up of many feathers.

Juveniles are not thought to become fully mature and reproductive until they reach the age of two. Here’s the nine-month-old youngster once more, up close…

By fall, the young owls would leave home and strike out on their own in the world. Only their parents would remain to start another breeding season.

To review the development of these young Great Horned Owls…

• Owl’s Nest, Part 1 >>
• Owl’s Nest, Part 2 >>
• A Young Owl’s Adventure >>

To view a previous year’s brood…

• Great Horned Owls: First Encounter
• Great Horned Owl Nestlings