I have taken three amazing bicycle rides in the past week. I load my bike on the car’s rack, and drive somewhere deep into the Minnesota Boreal Forest Wilderness. Once I reach my desired starting point which is always near a bog, I then bike for about 8 miles on a dirt or gravel road. My last three rides have yielded sightings of a Black Bear, a Bull Moose, and yesterday morning a Great Gray Owl. My private STRAVA account indicated for yesterday’s owl ride I biked for one hour, and spent 52 minutes stationary with the owl!

Here are a lot of images, but the morning was extra special. The Great Gray Owl granted me amazing views while it hunted, often near where I was standing. You will note that the owl in a number of pictures is holding its wings a bit open. The tall grass and trees were wet from both overnight rain and morning ground fog. The owl was drying off as it hunted.

And my Owling Bicycle Birding Setup (video link for email subscribers)

And me … check the background … an owl!

This is my 2nd post about my two visits to a Great Gray Owl nest which a few of us found in northern Minnesota. As the owlets have now fledged and are able to fly, the nest is empty, and the birds are safe. My two days of visiting were in early June. Read my post about my first visit to the nest (this is the 2nd). This post has both “flight training images” and “videos” of both owlets (found at the bottom this post)

The rains came overnight just prior to my second visit, and all the owls … Mom and the owlets were quite wet. Should you ever decided to hike into a back country boreal bog, wear FULL mosquito protect (head nets, gloves, etc). Trust me on this one!

First … wet Great Gray Owls (Momma and Owlet A)!

Great Gray Owlet B was Branching in the Sunshine, and had Dried Off

Momma Great Gray Owl Started Hunting, but Very Near the Nest! (Poppa Owl is the main hunter)

Owlet A Decided to Perform Flight Tests … Hanging On to the Nest for Dear Life While Wing Flapping!

Just prior to the owlet flight training escapades

Flight Training

Meanwhile Momma Owl started calling … I think she was asking for Poppa to make a food delivery.

Finally, prior to my videos, here are two pics of Owlet B Just Hanging Out!

And the Grand Finales … Great Gray Owlet Movies!

Great Gray Owlet A (video link for email subscribers)

Great Gray Owlet B (video link for email subscribers)

I had commented in post three weeks ago that in late May my birding experience has taught me that Poppa Great Gray Owls often will hunt near the backroads well into the daylight hours. The owlets are demanding food (and also Mom)! (See my Return of the Great Gray Owls Blog Post). This increased hunting activity also begins my period of what heretofore have always been unsuccessful bushwhacking attempts into the boreal bog in a quest to find a Great Gray Owl nest. Normally all I find are mosquitoes.

This year I had six different locations scattered across northern Minnesota where I attempted to find an elusive nest. Paying particular attention to where Poppa Owls fly into the forest, I then try walking the bogs … not a fun or easy task, but “no pain, no gain”. This year I finally struck paydirt (paybog?!). Eventually I made two trips into the Boreal Bog to visit the nest before the owlets fledged. This post documents visit #1. Expect a second post.

Please understand I am ONLY posting now because the owlets have fledged and are able to fly. Thus the Great Gray Owl nest is empty, and the birds are safe.

Great Gray Owlet A (still in the nest … awake and sleeping)

Great Gray Owlet B (branching)

Momma Great Gray Owl (hunting and keeping watch)

Please note that Poppa Owl is the main hunter for the entire family during these early days, which is why one has an increased probability that one may find him hunting the roadside long after sunrise. Poppa Owl has four hungry birds to feed … himself, Mom and the two owlets.

Finally here is a video of Momma Owl. If you listen closely you will be able to hear her “talking” with her nearby owlets. It was actually because of her soft sounds that I actually found the nest. I was about 70 yards away in the forest when I heard the owls. Without their sounds I doubt I would have even found the nest. (video link for email subscribers)