I read somewhere that owl siblings are often born at different times. The first egg hatches, then 2 weeks later the second egg, and so on. So it makes sense that one is significantly smaller than the other, if they are born several weeks apart. They are so cool looking! How close are they to you? Can you see them this well close up, or just using the camera zoom?
This is exactly what is going on with these two owls. One is clearly a week or more older than the other. I suppose this increases the chances of at least one owlet reaching maturity, but in this case the parents seem to be doing a great job of raising the pair!
The entire group (Mom, Dad, two Kids) live in the large Cottonwood trees that surround our campsite. I can get within 20 or 30 feet of the kids but generally stay farther back than that and rely on the telephoto lens. I don't want to stress them by approaching too close.
What a great picture of those owls! Don't know if you ever enter photos in the NWR contest each year, but this looks like a winner to me!
ReplyDeleteHow Neat! She' is right, you take great photos!
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that owl siblings are often born at different times. The first egg hatches, then 2 weeks later the second egg, and so on. So it makes sense that one is significantly smaller than the other, if they are born several weeks apart. They are so cool looking! How close are they to you? Can you see them this well close up, or just using the camera zoom?
ReplyDeleteHi Julee-
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what is going on with these two owls. One is clearly a week or more older than the other. I suppose this increases the chances of at least one owlet reaching maturity, but in this case the parents seem to be doing a great job of raising the pair!
The entire group (Mom, Dad, two Kids) live in the large Cottonwood trees that surround our campsite. I can get within 20 or 30 feet of the kids but generally stay farther back than that and rely on the telephoto lens. I don't want to stress them by approaching too close.
Mark