Owlet … Fledged … Mobbed by Crows (video)

Year 6

My Great Horned Owl twins fledged on Thursday. Throughout the day I tried to find them in the nest area without success. After supper I hiked over to their territory, and when I heard crows obviously mobbing a bird some distance off, I continued my hike through the pine forest. My youngsters were now moving around the forest, but discovered the world can be a cruel place. Thankfully they survived the mobbing with some help from their Dad who appeared and convinced 20+ crows to follow him. This left about five crows which were intent upon harassing the owlet. However, these chicks are now big, and pack some punch themselves. See the third image.

The Attack

The Defense

Proud and Victorious!

Great Horned Owl Family Watching Crow Attack

Year 6

This morning I watched the Great Horned Owl family watch their Dad take one for the team. Mom was hanging very tight against the trunk of the White Pine with her two owlets while Dad perched in another tree and attracted the attention of the crows. He then flew off with more than 20 crows in pursuit. Mom obviously knew of my presence, but please realize I have a very long zoom lens, and am no where near the owls.

Great Horned Owl Family Watches Dad Fly By With Crows in Pursuit.

Mom Checking Me Out … Owlets Start to Watch Fly By

Entire owl family watching Dad circling with crows in pursuit

Second Owlet has moved out of sight

Mom looks over at me again. Youngster still watching crows and Dad.

Fly By is Over … Back to Sleep for Owlet

Meet “Red” … An Uncommon Loon

Year 6,

I had almost given up hope of seeing a Red-Throated Loon that was not hundreds of yards out on Lake Superior. The northward migration of these loons up to the Tundra and Arctic in Canada is almost finished. In fact, I thought the chance of seeing “Red” after Memorial Day was very unlikely. However this spring has been very cold, and the northern migration has been delayed. This morning a trio of loons were feeding on smelt near the Minnesota Point beach just outside the surf. Jackpot!

Believe it or not the Red-Throated Loons were actually my second neat find of the morning. My friend Jon and I had already spent 15 minutes watching a flock of ten Marbled Godwits feeding out on the Park Point Ball Fields. I’m really glad I did not decide to drive over to the ball fields last night as suggested by a friend because while yesterday evening’s weather was 41F, cloudy with a 20 mph wind, this morning it was 44F with clear skies and a light breeze … much more pleasant and better light for birding photography (thanks Greg for letting me know about the sighting).

Jon’s and my final stop of the morning was a visit to my Great Horned Owl family. Although we initially searched for over 30 minutes, we could not find the owls. However when 20+ crows, a few blue jays, and this Merlin decided to attack the family, we finally discovered their hiding spot. The sight lines to the owls was horrible, but here is a photo of Mr. Merlin screaming its displeasure with the owl family. If the Merlin has decided to nest in this area, it will be a regrettable decision … its chicks will end up as owl candy.

Quite frankly, even in my book, it’s hard to have a much better birding excursion. Jon and I left at 6:40, and were home by 9:30. We only spent 40 minutes in the car (20 minutes in each direction). We saw lots more birds than I photographed. These were just the highlights.