Photo courtesy of Mark Glenshaw
Last Sunday evening I joined Mark Glenshaw, the Owlman of Forest Park, on a prowl to search for owlets Monica and Dalton, offspring of Sarah (left) and Charles (right), the pair of Great Horned Owls that reside in Forest Park. When we first encountered this pair in January they were nesting, and shortly after that first visit the owlets hatched (see post here).
About ten days ago Mark saw "Daddy" Charles chasing son Dalton over Government Hill and into the Zoo (see the chase on Mark's blog). Mark hasn't seen either of the owlets since. Sad as this is from a human perspective, the owlets are old enough now to try to make it on their own. We tramped all over the woods Sunday evening looking in the usual spots, and at first could only spot Charles. When he started hooting at dusk, Sarah swooped in beside him (after about 20 minutes), and their hooting duet began.
The owlets never appeared on Sunday, nor could they be heard begging for food. When owlets are old enough, their parents stop feeding them and eventually chase them away. Tough stuff, as the survival rate for owlets is iffy through the first and second years of life. Mark said that the young pair may stick together—or not—as they search for a new home.
We found owl feathers at the base of the "nesting tree" Sunday, and after photographing them they were returned where they were found (it is not permissible to collect the feathers). If you look closely you can see cuts in the feathers which enable these predators to fly silently. And since these huge (24" tall) predators are covered in feathers—they weigh only 2 to 4 pounds—you can imagine how hot this summer has been for them. We watched Charles stretch his wings to catch what breeze he could.
A worrier by nature, I have added Monica and Dalton to my list.
oh, dear and now on mine as well …. !