From Nicole Seward
This is a series I've never shared before - and it took me all evening to put together. I had the incredible opportunity to visit a Great Horned Owl nest that was in a nest box, my first time ever photographing one. A couple of years earlier, this same pair had nested in a Red-tailed Hawk nest that had fallen. When that happened, a concerned bystander, Carolyn Nessmann came up with a plan, and a special woman graciously allowed a nest box to be placed in her yard for the owlets. Since then, this pair has continued to use the box year after year.
On this particular night, not much seemed to be happening at first, and I honestly thought I wasn't going to see much action - but I was very wrong. After mama owl fed the babies, she refused to feed the larger owlet, clearly encouraging it to leave the nest. When mom took off, the owlet did just that, branching out and leaving the nest for good.
It was one of the most epic wildlife experiences I've ever witnessed. For a full two minutes, we watched as the owlet worked its way down a long branch, stomping, leaping, and making progress toward higher branches, where mom would reward him with food for leaving the nest. Watching it all unfold was unforgettable. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I enjoyed witnessing it.
