Trixology
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Blicj11 on May 09, 2015, 01:15:32 AM
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This morning, I captured the view from our back deck and thought you might enjoy a closeup of a mother and baby great horned owl. They are nesting in the top of dead pine tree about 130 yards away.
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Wow! Nice catch, Blick! Is that where they are nesting, or did you just catch them resting after a prolonged hunt?
[rockon]
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They are nesting there. This was the first time I had been able to see the offspring. The Dad shows up about midnight and they hoot like crazy for a half hour.
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Well, thanks for the look at your hooters! (bet you knew that was coming) Owls are not that easy to photograph, but as birds go, they are one of the most interesting, and useful. Bet you're proud to have a family nearby to keep the rodent population in check.
[cheers1]
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Ha ha Herb; you are the best.
Great horned owls mate for life and return to the same place every year (if possible) during the late winter to lay and hatch 2 eggs. They usually show up by February. The eggs hatch in about a month and the fledglings grow for another month or so. Then they hang around until it warms up and the wee ones can fly.
They are fierce predators that can take large prey, including raptors such as ospreys, peregrine falcons, other owls and small Liberal Democrats (UK variety). They also eat much smaller items such as rodents, frogs, and scorpions.
When clenched, a great horned owl?s strong talons require a force of 28 pounds to open. The owls use this deadly grip to sever the spine of large prey.
And now, mate, you know more than you ever desired about great horned owls.
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an fly.
They are fierce predators that can take large prey, including small Liberal Democrats (UK variety).
Blick, The Lib Dems are an endangered species over here now.
JC
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Blick, The Lib Dems are an endangered species over here now.
I watched the results on the BBC. Too many owls or was it something else?
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Dear Blick, Herb, JC,
This morning, I captured the view from our back deck and thought you might enjoy a closeup of a mother and baby great horned owl. They are nesting in the top of dead pine tree about 130 yards away.
Neat pictures!! Thanks for sharing!
They are fierce predators that can take large prey, including raptors such as ospreys, peregrine falcons, other owls and small Liberal Democrats (UK variety). They also eat much smaller items such as rodents, frogs, and scorpions.
;)
Around our house when we jokingly claim that we have seen large birds such Pterodactyls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodactylus), Terror Birds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorusrhacidae), and other such delightful creatures, are list of "usual prey" usually ends like this: "cats, dogs, small children . . . . . ." (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/eek2.gif)
[biggrin]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Thanks Blick. I've been schooled! Didn't know they could take on raptors or liberal Dems. Ornery little scutters; aren't they?
[interesting]
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Terrific views! I am envious. The best I get is on the much smaller side of the bird world - hummingbirds. My "weather cam" centers on a hummingbird feeder.
http://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=KGAGRACE1 (http://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=KGAGRACE1)
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I've looked at your webcam before. Awesome resolution.
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Here is the latest and it is astounding how fast the younglings grow. This is just 11 days later.
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Dear Blick and WeatherCat political observers, . . . .
Here is the latest and it is astounding how fast the younglings grow. This is just 11 days later.
;) . . . Sufferin' succotash, what's that mother owl feeding those little ones . . . You guys also having a special election and there is a lot of blood in the water or something! . . . . [lol2]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
P.S. Over here it's so bad that volunteers are stooped to letting people's dogs out of their fences!! :o Well, not exactly, but some volunteers for one candidate accidentally left a gate open and a yellow lab "flew da' coop." Second time that dog has successfully escaped this month! [biggrin]
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Nice! I put up an owl box few years ago hoping to attract a nesting pair. Unsuccessful, at least as far as owls go. A raccoon took up residence for a while, as I discovered when I put my hand in to clear out the box! Fortunately, he was more startled than I was and jumped. Double fortunately, I didn't fall off the ladder.
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Early this morning the station webcam caught a neat shot of a hummingbird. The sunlight from the rising sun back lit its wings. Lucky photo, for sure. The hummingbirds don't stay in one place for long.
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Dear Michael and WeatherCat feathered creature lovers, . . .
Early this morning the station webcam caught a neat shot of a hummingbird. The sunlight from the rising sun back lit its wings. Lucky photo, for sure. The hummingbirds don't stay in one place for long.
Thanks for sharing it is a neat photo especially for a webcam.
Cheers, Edouard