Pretty much every year we have stayed at this resort a pair of owls have nested in one of the palm trees. The first year it was right next to the swimming pool. The next year they were across the street by the pickleball courts. While the location varies they are always a key attraction.
The search for the nesting tree starts in early January as residents turn their gazes skyward and start the watch for a pair of owls circling above and eventually settling on a specific tree to make their home. We are not sure if the same pair returns each year or if perhaps the babies from one year return a few years later to nest in their birthplace. One year the mother was found dead on the golf course. A victim of poison, a hawk attack, we are not sure but it was a sad day for us owl watchers.
This year we were fortunate that the owls chose a tree only one street over from us so watching their progression was very convenient. We have also watched as a team of 3 Harris Hawks have repeatedly conducted a coordinated arial attack on the mother owl and the nest. So far their attacks have been turned away by the owls with the help of the neighbourhood watch which consists of a number of residents on the street that come out to yell and clap to scare the hawks away.
Here are a few pictures of our owl family which consists of 3 owlets plus mom and dad. Mom is on the nest most of the time with dad off hunting but now that the owlets are getting bigger the nest is often unattended for large periods of time as feeding 3 fast growing babies takes lots of successful hunts.
You can see the back of 2 owlets heads plus the biggest baby in profile. They are starting to lose their white fluff and being replaced by feathers. Soon all that will be left will be an empty nest.
One of the smaller owlets. Eyes closed and mouth open. Perhaps calling for mom. "I'm hungry. Feed me"
I have been dropping by everyday so hopefully I get a few more good shots to post.
No comments:
Post a Comment