{"id":15791,"date":"2021-05-24T14:48:14","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T18:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=15791"},"modified":"2021-05-24T14:48:17","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T18:48:17","slug":"take-5-great-horned-owlets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-great-horned-owlets\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Great Horned Owlets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Great Horned Owls are one of the earliest birds to breed in Massachusetts, with courtship beginning as early as December. They are not cavity nesters, but use old Red-tailed Hawk or Great Blue Heron nests, often at the top of dead tree snags. With a little luck, you may be able to spot the still-downy heads of fledglings sticking up over the edges of these large nests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around six weeks of age, baby Great Horned Owls begin to venture out of the nest onto nearby branches, a behavior called (appropriately) “branching.” Because their wings are not yet fully developed, they use their talons to grip branches and move around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After another week or so, their wings and confidence have strengthened enough to try out a few awkward test flights, but they usually bungle it more often than they succeed in the beginning. This can lead to some comical situations with confused, panicky youngsters finding themselves hanging upside down from tree branches or even on the ground, sharply clacking their bills and wearing a bewildered expression. Appearances to the contrary, they are perfectly fine and will return to the safety of their nests after a brief period of recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you come across a fluffy fledgling looking a bit disgruntled on the ground, there’s no need to worry\u2014the parents are almost certainly nearby keeping a watchful, stoic eye while their little ones blunder their way through adolescence. Keep a respectful distance to ensure you don’t inadvertently cause them further stress, and enjoy a quiet chuckle of commiseration\u2014after all, who hasn’t been through an awkward growth spurt or two?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy these five photos of Great Horned Owlets from our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest. The 2021 contest will be opening in early June, so get your cameras ready and get outdoors!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Great
Great Horned Owl \u00a9 Jason Goldstein<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Great
Great Horned Owl \u00a9 John Harrison<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Great
Great Horned Owls \u00a9 Rick Olick<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Great
Great Horned Owls \u00a9 Jim Renault<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Great
Great Horned Owl \u00a9 Scott Creamer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Great Horned Owls are one of the earliest birds to breed in Massachusetts, with courtship beginning as early as December. They are not cavity nesters, but use old Red-tailed Hawk or Great Blue Heron nests, often at the top of dead tree snags. With a little luck, you may be able to spot the still-downy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":15792,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[386,6,143,158],"tags":[124,28,80,83,84],"class_list":["post-15791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-birds-birding","category-general","category-photo-contest-2","category-take-5","tag-baby-birds","tag-birds","tag-owls","tag-photo-contest","tag-photography"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/717JOHN_HARRISON34601-2.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-46H","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5417,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/trailside-to-the-rescue\/","url_meta":{"origin":15791,"position":0},"title":"Trailside to the Rescue","author":"Hillary T.","date":"May 13, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"When\u00a0four great horned owl chicks and their nest blew out of their tree near Blue Hills Trailside Museum in Milton due to high winds in early May, the team at Trailside knew exactly what to do.\u00a0Trailside has successfully placed\u00a03,000 baby hawks and owls into foster nests over the past 30\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Stuff We Love"","block_context":{"text":"Stuff We Love","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/stuff-we-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo by Dan Burton ","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/05\/GHO_1-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/05\/GHO_1-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/05\/GHO_1-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10408,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-great-horned-owls\/","url_meta":{"origin":15791,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Great Horned Owls","author":"Ryan D.","date":"January 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Although great horned owls are year-round residents of Massachusetts, December through February is a particularly good time to go \"owling\" for this iconic species. The earliest owl to begin mating season, great horned owls often \"duet\" in courting pairs, a hauntingly beautiful, stuttering \"hoo-hoo-HOO-hoo-hoo\" sound. And while males are typically\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Great horned owl \u00a9 Phil Sorrentino","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/01\/604Phil_Sorrentino9714_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/01\/604Phil_Sorrentino9714_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/01\/604Phil_Sorrentino9714_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8632,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/owling-101-how-to-spot-an-owl\/","url_meta":{"origin":15791,"position":2},"title":"Owling 101: How to Spot an Owl","author":"Ryan D.","date":"February 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"You may be surprised to learn that owls can be heard in most neighborhoods and backyards, even in Boston and the near suburbs. Since many owl species begin looking for mates in winter\u00a0and are at their most vocal this time of year, now is the perfect time to go \"owling\"\u2014looking\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Great Horned Owl","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/02\/Great-Horned-Owl1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/02\/Great-Horned-Owl1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/02\/Great-Horned-Owl1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/02\/Great-Horned-Owl1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15703,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-freebirds\/","url_meta":{"origin":15791,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Freebirds","author":"Ryan D.","date":"May 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Mass Audubon's annual Bird-a-thon is an amazing event that allows us to share our love for birds and, thankfully, the number of participants grows each year. We have always been mindful that while this event has unmatched potential for getting people excited about birds, birding, and conservation, it also has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Barred Owl \u00a9 Jenny Zhao","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/5457Jenny_Zhao33490-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/5457Jenny_Zhao33490-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/5457Jenny_Zhao33490-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/5457Jenny_Zhao33490-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13706,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-barred-owls\/","url_meta":{"origin":15791,"position":4},"title":"Take 5: Barred Owls","author":"Ryan D.","date":"March 23, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Solemnity is what they express\u2014fit representatives of the night.\u201d\u2014Henry David Thoreau The shy but stocky Barred Owl does indeed cut a solemn figure, with its soulful, dark brown, almost black eyes and stripes of mottled brown and white crossing its body. Many nighttime travelers in the New England woods have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Barred Owl \u00a9 Cynthia Rand","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/03\/6039Cynthia_Rand30889.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/03\/6039Cynthia_Rand30889.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/03\/6039Cynthia_Rand30889.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/03\/6039Cynthia_Rand30889.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12389,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-owl-things-considered\/","url_meta":{"origin":15791,"position":5},"title":"Take 5: Owl Things Considered","author":"Ryan D.","date":"February 18, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"It may still be cold and wintery outside, but things are heating up for our breeding owl species. Late winter is the height of the courtship and mating season for most owl species so there's a good chance you may hear a \"hoo's hoo\" of mating calls (although not all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Screech-Owl \u00a9 Amy Powers-Smith","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/2795Amy_PowersSmith11920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/2795Amy_PowersSmith11920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/2795Amy_PowersSmith11920.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/2795Amy_PowersSmith11920.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15791"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15801,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15791\/revisions\/15801"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}