Whoo Baby
by Joy McAdams
Title
Whoo Baby
Artist
Joy McAdams
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
On it's first day completely out of it's nest, A Great Horned Owl fledgling looks directly towards the photographer from it's perch on a fallen log on the forest floor. With a coat consisting of half soft fuzzy feathers, and an increasing amount of adult-like feathers and banding, and with limited flying and hunting skills, this juvenile is akin to a pre-pubescent teen and open to all sorts of trouble, both self-imposed and from other sources. Over the next few months it will wander over the forest floor, strengthening it's leg muscles while under the watchful eye of it's parents. It will not be fully independent for many months to come and mortality rates can reach up to 50%.
This image taken in the wilds of southeastern British Columbia, Canada.
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The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is found throughout most of North America and much of South America. A big owl which is aggressive and powerful in its hunting (sometimes known by nicknames such as "tiger owl"), it takes prey as varied as rabbits, hawks, snakes, and even skunks, and will even attack porcupines, often with fatal results for both prey and predator. Great Horned Owls begin nesting very early in the north, and their deep hoots may be heard rolling across the forest on mid-winter nights.
Feeding Behavior
Hunts mostly at night, sometimes at dusk. Watches from high perch, then swoops down to capture prey in its talons. Has extremely good hearing and good vision in low light conditions. In north in winter, may store uneaten prey, coming back later to thaw out frozen carcass by "incubating" it.
Eggs
2-3, sometimes 1-5, rarely 6. Dull whitish. Incubation mostly by female, 28-35 days. Young: Both parents take part in providing food for young owls. Young may leave nest and climb on nearby branches at 5 weeks, can fly at about 9-10 weeks; tended and fed by parents for up to several months.
Young
Both parents take part in providing food for young owls. Young may leave nest and climb on nearby branches at 5 weeks, can fly at about 9-10 weeks; tended and fed by parents for up to several months.
Uploaded
March 28th, 2020
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