I returned to the park yesterday afternoon to look for and watch Charles, Sarah and this year's offspring. I found Charles where he had been in the morning, in a tree he's been using this winter mostly as a fly-to perch. This new perch is in a tree between The Great Northern and The Overlook Hotel Tree. Sarah was out of the nest and in a low branch of The Overlook Hotel Tree, looking especially magnificent.
I headed down toward the nest tree and from a distance, I saw that there were two owlets in the hollow!!
Here's a cropped version of the same shot, which makes it easier to see the youngsters. The one that I saw in the morning is on the left and the second owlet is on the right.
It was amazing to see two and I can't help but wonder if there are three. Average clutch size for Great Horned Owls is two-three. Clutches of one, four and five to occur but are far less frequent. Notice how the second owlet, the one on the right, is smaller and less mature than its sibling on the left. GHOs lay their eggs asynchronously, at a different times. Usually each egg is laid one to two days apart but the time between each egg laying can be as much as five to ten days. This asynchronous egg-laying results in asynchronous egg hatching and thus owlets of different ages and stages.
I went to get a closer look of the owlets but the second owlet had descended down into the nest was out of sight. This owlet may have gotten a case of what Wendy calls, "the shys." I managed to get some other shots of the first owlet.
Great stuff for sure! The evening continued with many highlights including a visit from a new owl friend, Taffy Ross, Charles returning twice with food after very short absences (well done, Charles) and a very close encounter with Sarah. Thanks for reading! 
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Am going to add this to my blog Mark. Thank you for the update!
ReplyDeleteHi Mark!
ReplyDeleteThis is super! I so enjoy reading these blogs, so many thanks for sending them!
I wonder if you'll find a third little guys one of these days?
Thanks for reading and the support, Mom and Nicki!
ReplyDeleteIt was so great to read your article in the paper and know other people have an interest in our animal world around us! As I type this, I can hear "my" owls outside. I live in Cottleville, St Charles County, and what often feels like the last green space out here. Spring 2010 was the the first time since we moved here 7 years ago I heard more than one GHO at a time! And last fall I heard 3 at one time. Don't know what it means, but it sure is exciting! I look forward to seeing your pics of the babies! from Kelly L.(on son's google account :)
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the kind words, Kelly (via Aidan's account)! That's great that you have heard GHO in your area and that you also heard 3 of them too! Thanks again and take care!
ReplyDeleteHi Mark,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Lisa.You met my sister Jill today in the park.She told me about the owls in which I just looked up.So neat!Thank you so much.Some years back I was walking in the woods where I live here in southern Ill.(Marissa)with my golden retriever when we stumbled across a great horned owl!I had never seen one until then.It was on the ground I think eating a mouse.We were only about 50 ft from it.Something I'll never forget and amazing to see.Kudos to you on your excellent observance.