A Great horned owl nestling fell out of it's nest. The nest just appeared to have come a bit apart. There wasn't a very high wind involved. This is the same nest where ghowls killed the Cooper's hawks last summer and took over this year. Perhaps the nest is haunted by ghosts of cooper's past
In any event the owner of the residence found it on the ground one morning. One of the parent owls was in a tree watching it. The owner called me. When I got there we picked it up, rehydrated it and put in a tree where we hoped the parents would continue to feed it. The nestling was too young to be able to remain in this location so the owner lodged a wicker basket in a shaded location in the tree. I haven't heard if this was a success yet.
The wicker basket nest fell from the tree along with junior during the night. Next morning he was fiesty. She jammed the basket nest in another tree. When I came up around noon we relocated the basket nest and I secured it higher in a tree, gave the site a limb for the parent to land and also provided some shade. We will see if this suffices.
The first image is when we first started the rescue mission prior to putting it in a tree.
Second is the baby in the basket nest.
Third is the male supervising the renovation. He was there for about an hour while we screwed around finding a suitable spot and securing it. He was about 40 ft up in a nearby tree. He never said a word.
Oh, Morris, wonderful shot. I hope he makes it. Trying to help one in distress can be a wonderful thing and very fulfilling. I do hope you hear what happens and let us know.
birdied wrote:
Oh, Morris, wonderful shot. I hope he makes it. Trying to help one in distress can be a wonderful thing and very fulfilling. I do hope you hear what happens and let us know.
Birdie
Well, I'm not Morris but thanks anyway. The latest is that the wicker basket and the owlet were on the ground this morning but the owlet was much more feisty and not dehydrated. Perhaps the male fed it last night and in landing or taking off from the "nest" it dislodged it.The male was still in a
his usual nearby day perch.
I'm going up there shortly with another basket and wire to see what we can do to secure or modify the basket
Norm
Mark Cronin wrote:
Good job Norm,
I'll be looking for the update and more shots.
Mark
Thanks Mark, I added a couple of shots of the new nest location and of the old man. Just about high noon and light was not very good. Before we before we left I placed a motion-triggered video trail camera aimed the new nest and we may be able to document what happens both day and night.
Norm
Nice shots and well done playing owl rescuer. I suspect ma and pa GHO don't see it that way so be careful! Hopefully it will make it and we can call it "Norm".
Take care of yourself!
Eric
eyelaser wrote:
Nice shots and well done playing owl rescuer. I suspect ma and pa GHO don't see it that way so be careful! Hopefully it will make it and we can call it "Norm".
Take care of yourself!
Eric
Thanks Eric, We went through about an hour of messing around erecting the new nest site and didn't even see Pa Owl until we were about to leave. It took much longer than it should have because of the restrictions put on me because of a recent surgery.
Norm
morris wrote:
It is good of your to try Norm. If mom has not run off depressed there is a chance.
The first photo is cute!
Morris
Thanks Morris, Actually, the male is a better provider since he contributes a lot of groceries for both the female and the offspring during the breeding season. He is the classic hen-pecked husband.
Norm
Very cool story and good for you guys with the rescue attempt! I wish the youngster a long and healthful life ahead.
I followed a couple of baby GHO's this year and the last visit to the nest they were gone - and there were quite a few feathers around the nest area. I don't know what their fate was but hope that they fledged and left the nest as they were within a week or so of that. They're easy to get attached to and to root for
Karl Witt wrote:
What a looker this youngster is Norm, that first shot is adorable I hope things go well for this youngster, your good deed should not go unrewarded!
Karl
Thanks Karl, I hope you are right, but as an old Eagle Scout I have had very many good deeds go unrewarded so it won't be a surprise.
timgriffin wrote:
Very cool story and good for you guys with the rescue attempt! I wish the youngster a long and healthful life ahead.
I followed a couple of baby GHO's this year and the last visit to the nest they were gone - and there were quite a few feathers around the nest area. I don't know what their fate was but hope that they fledged and left the nest as they were within a week or so of that. They're easy to get attached to and to root for
Thanks Tim, It's easy to get a personal attachment to individual wild critters, even for a wildlife biologist like me. It will be much tougher on my 53 year old daughter and the property owned who I have been helping.
Norm
Nice pics. Such instances of GH owlets falling from their nest or tree perch is not unusual. A GH owlet fell from its tree perch in our local park yesterday. It was taken to the local Bird Rescue Center and I am told by the park Ranger that it will be rehabilitated tomorrow night. I hope I can get some photos too.
The same pair of GHOs nested last year in another eucalyptus tree about a couple of hundred yards away, and . . . guess what . . . one owlet fell from the tree and was rehabilitated.
I hope things go well for this youngster, your good deed should not go unrewarded!