Okefenokee Owlets

Swamps are special places

Each swamp is unique. The Okefenokee swamp was logged years ago. The loggers needed access and a way of getting the timber out. They created a system of shallow canals that remain so that visitors to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge have canoe access deep into the swamp. Less adventurous visitors can ride these canals in small tour boats. The Georgia Nature Photographers Association chartered two boats for a late afternoon and sunset trip. Ten photographers and a boatman or boatlady, our tour guide, in each boat. The morning trips had seen two owlets and we eagerly anticipated photographing them on our trip. But WOW!

Like egrets and herons, owls like to nest above alligators. Safe in our boats, we photographed several. Like this one lurking, watching, waiting.

Barred owls often nest in tree cavities and apparently mate for life. The guides showed us where this pair of owls nested and raised two chicks generally called owlets.

A bit about owls and owlets

Barred Owls are perhaps our best known owls – often called hoot owls for their familiar call. In the south, eggs may be laid in January or early February. The female incubates the eggs for about 4 weeks. Both parents will care and feed the chicks for four to six weeks as the chicks loose their downy fluff and develop the wings and muscles needed for flight. But unlike many other nest-raised chicks, owlets will leave the nest to explore and develop strength before they fledge – or fly as young adults. Owlets will climb, hop and jump, glide, and even fly short distances. This exploration is often called branching.

(Bloggers note: It’s late afternoon. The boat rocks. The guide tries to position the boat so we can take turns getting shots. Often the guide cuts the small motor and paddles to get us into place! The birds are far away. I’m trying to handhold a heavy Nikon with a 200-500mm lens racked all the way out. I’m still awestruck by the experience. I knew little about owls – thank you Cornell Ornithology Lab and Wikipedia! I love these pictures and hope you will wade through my normal verbiage to enjoy them with me.)

Let’s meet the family

So as we photographers waited anxiously and pressed our guides to find an owlet – here she was! I didn’t spot her until the guide pointed and my friends aimed their cameras. Isn’t she beautiful!?!?!?

Of course, we wanted more. We knew there was a second owlet. And owlets usually stay close. So we asked and the guide delivered! This one was harder to see – it was nearly dark in the trees above us. But owlets are curious – they really have to know what is making all the commotion. So he had to hang over the branch and look straight down and see us as we looked up to spot him.

Again, photographers are never satisfied. If there are two owlets there has to be a momma nearby. “Find us the mother,” we begged the guide. Again the guide delivered! Here she is on a branch not far away. “What does she have in her claws!?!?!” a photographer yelled. “Is that a tail?”

So our chorus of photographers demanded that the guide hold the boat – let us see. Perhaps she’ll fly to a baby??!?!?!

Yes!!!! Unbelievable! Someone is looking out for us! Momma is airborne – with a meal for the chicks in her claws.

A meal for an Owlet

Momma has arrived with the meal. But first a few moments of togetherness. I loved watching as they (I know – this may be pushing things too far) appear to snuggle a bit. Just to sit together for a time.

Momma wants to snuggle – but her owlet is definitely interested in food.

Mother eats a bit for herself first. Like all owls, barred owls are carnivorous and eat a variety of small mammals. Owls swallow their prey whole or in large chunks. Here momma takes the first bites, perhaps teaching her chick what and how to eat.

Momma takes a furry piece first. She’ll swallow it as is. After digesting her food, momma owl will regurgitate any bones, fur and other inedible parts. Seemed strange to watch and since I knew so little I had to study the barred owl’s habits to understand what I had photographed.

Now, before feeding her owlet, momma and her chick watch . . ..

Baby brother is branching. Unable to fly up to join his sister and mother, the owlet has jumped from one tree to another and is climbing up to join them He doesn’t want to miss out on a meal!

Dinner time!

Luckily, we photographers owned the boat! Everyone wanted to stay and watch. Everyone wanted to get more pictures. So again our guide grabbed the paddle and put us in position. Now, just because brother has arrived doesn’t mean he will get to eat anytime soon. We’ll be happy watching dinner served to either owlet. Sister is already next to mom and is ready to eat. Momma gets a bite of mouse …

and gives it to her chick! This is the way she (and her mate) have fed the owlets for weeks and will continue until they are strong enough to fly and hunt on their own.