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From Paul Brooks

Composing a shot for a Saw Whet, one of the things to consider is placement of greenery from the tree. It adds another color element to the shot, but also helps to show just how small this tiny killer really is. That little cedar green sprout is less than 4" away from the bird, and is almost 1/3rd the size of the owl. A little context can go a long ways in a photo. The Saw whet here was about 5.5-6.5" tall, so that sprout of growth is only about 1.5-2" tall.

Taken 6-22-26 in Blackhawk County, lowa. I also heard that this owl is in the same spot today, and has a mouse in the talons....

From Knut Eisermann

Stygian Owl (Asio stygius robustus) in the highlands of Guatemala, Central America.

It's like someone put a Long Eared Owl in dark mode!

From Sasa Lin

The "Branching" Phase: A Tumble from the Nest It might look like a disaster, but seeing a Great Horned Owlet on the ground is actually a common part of their journey to adulthood. During the "branching" stage, these fuzzy explorers often venture out of the nest before they've mastered flight. While some falls are accidental-especially during the night-these youngsters are incredibly resilient.

The most important thing is keeping them safe from traffic and predators. This little one was found by the roadside and has been safely moved to a nearby tree, where its parents can continue to watch over and feed it as it learns the ropes of being a raptor.

From The Raptor Center

The first babies of the year have arrived!

We've reached one of our most exciting annual milestones, the beginning of baby season, with several nestling and brancher birds arriving at TRC's raptor hospital in the past few weeks. Great-horned owls (GHOWs) are the earliest raptors to hatch in our area, so they kicked off this spring's influx of baby arrivals.

On March 3, a GHOW baby was found on the ground in Hudson, WI, too young to be out of the nest. Observers spotted the nest about 35 feet high in a pine tree, with the owl parents and two siblings visible.

This owlet, found on admission to be about four weeks old, only sustained minor bruising from its fall and was successfully returned to its parents and siblings on March 5, marking another milestone - first renesting of the season!

These photos tell the story of this GHOW baby's quick adventure outside the nest, from being found on the ground, a view of the owl parent, the chick's admission to TRC's raptor hospital, then banded and boxed for return to the nest, reunion with parents and siblings, and a recheck of the nest on March 20.

From Izzy Edwards

Baby season is here!

Spotted Owl branchlings on a gorgeous old growth Red Cedar

I've seen estimates from last year as low as 3,000-5,000 in the US and >6-60 in Canada. Numbers have been declining still. Enjoy these little ones while you can!

From World Bird Sanctuary

There is still time to sign up for our Rescue & Transport training!

We need volunteers who are willing to contain injured raptors and bring them to our hospital for care. We especially need people who are willing to drive an hour or more each way, as our rescue radius is up to 3 1/2 hours. Attend one of our training sessions on either Tuesday, March 31st, from 6-7:30pm or Sunday, April 12th, from 2:30-4pm.

Details about how the rescue group works are part of the training. At the end of the training, you'll be able to sign up for the group if you are still interested in participating. You'll also be able to purchase rescue supplies if needed.

Don't have the time for a weekly shift but still want to get up close to cool wildlife? Getting approved for wildlife transport doesn't take long, some even do it over zoom now, and if a little critter needs transport, pop it in your car and get it to its doctor appointment.

Clinics are often very busy with the treatment, so we don't often have our own people to do the running around of patients.

But if you want to drive around with a raccoon, opossum, owl, or other wild things, look into using a wildlife transport class!

From Dick Cannings

Yesterday I was checking some nest boxes put up about 25 years ago and was happy to find some of the boxes still intact--and one had a Northern Saw-whet Owl sitting on her eggs!

From Derek Yeo

Buffy Fish Owl @ Pasir Ris Park - This is the first time I have shot the Buffy looking like this in flight. Quite unique looking and I guess the backlight makes it even more unique

From Jen Marie

"Yesterday and tomorrow cross and mix on the skyline. The two are lost in a purple haze. One forgets, one waits." - Carl Sandburg

Here, a barred owl soaks up the last bit of purple hue from the sunset while beginning to hunt for the night. - in Ohio.

From Hoo's Woods

Here's a cuteness overload for your day!

When this baby Great Horned Owl arrived two weeks ago, he was about the size of the smallest "bird buddy" next to him. In that short time, he has already doubled in size and will soon be standing as tall as the larger stuffed owl beside him.

Despite his rough start, he is expected to make a full recovery and will be rehomed with other wild owls. By around 7 weeks of age, owls reach their full size, but it takes several more months of learning from adult birds to develop the hunting and survival skills they need to thrive on their own.

These stuffed "bird buddies" may look simple, but they can play a role in providing comfort while allowing us to maintain a safe, wild distance.

If you come across what appears to be orphaned wildlife, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before intervening. Proper assessment and care can make all the difference.

From California Raptor Center

The CRC is welcoming Raptor Baby Season!

Our center received a fledgling Western Screech Owl on March 14th. The baby was found on the ground with its eyes closed in Sacramento. It did not move when approached with a catch towel, and only opened its two eyes. The fledgling was taken to the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital, and then transferred to the California Raptor Center. An examination was done where a small abrasion on the head was found and there was soiling on feathers of the head and back. On the 15th, a CRC volunteer went to the fledgling's rescue location to search for a nest or parents, but neither was found.

The fledgling will continue to receive expert care until it's ready for release back into the wild!

From Jan Pokluda

I've seen several Boreal Owls on social media lately, so I'll join the party too. I took this photo in a slightly creative way, shooting it perpendicular to the sky directly from the base of a beech tree, where this young curious creature peeked out at me. An observant viewer will surely notice a few flies crawling on the young owl's head. It's no secret that owls aren't exactly perfumed with shampoo. Their cavities are often full of animal carcasses, whose smell attracts all kinds of insects, which the owls occasionally feed on.

Lately, owls have been avoiding me, so I'm curious to see if any will wink at me from above again this year.

I would like to thank the renowned Lukáš Pich, nature cameraman, for inviting me to meet this magnificent creature, and I would also like to thank its discoverer and great owl enthusiast, Ivo Hertl.

Nikon Z6 + Nikkor 500mm f/5.6 pf vr + 2 x TC, July 14, 2023