Yost Park Owls 2016

[Bill Anderson]

The Yost Park resident pair of barred owls had two owlets this spring. Those of us who were aware of the owlets have refrained from announcing their presence due to the circus created by the sighting of two long-eared owls at Eide Road near Stanwood two years ago. The owlets have fledged and are no longer visible from the walking path.

Here are my first photos of an owlet. Its mother was watching from a nearby branch. Neither bird seemed concerned about the presence of people.

5-12-16

The adult flew over to the baby.

 

[Bill Anderson]

The barred owls are very good parents. Both perch near the fledglings to watch over them and bring them food. One of the parents (mother?) perched on a branch directly over the pathway near the burrow. She was totally unconcerned as people walked under her. Likewise, some people were completely clueless that an owl was resting above their heads.

5-13-16
Close enough to use a cell phone camera.

My son posed beneath the owl.

Rocky and Janine taking photos.

 

[Bill Anderson]

5-16-16
A few days later some people pointed out a fledgling in the foliage northeast of the burrow. It would climb up a branch, flap its wings, glide down to a lower branch, then repeat the process.

It was much larger and more developed than the one still remaining in the burrow.

 

[Bill Anderson]

5-18-16
The younger of the two owlets fledged and was perching in a tree near the burrow. According to others present, I just missed seeing one of the parents bring it a rodent to eat. After awhile, the owlet began hissing as though it might be hungry. Both parents were perched nearby and one flew over to groom the owlet.

 

[Bill Anderson]

5-19-16

I finally caught a food delivery to one of the owlets. After I arrived I saw one of the adults perched in a nearby tree. It wasn't until I examined my photos at home that I discovered a shrew in its beak.

The adult delivered the shrew to the baby.

 

[Bill Anderson]

I have not seen the baby since late last week, so I assume has relocated somewhere out in the dense foliage away from the main walking path.

 

[squirl033]

good stuff, Bill! i was going to try to get down there tomorrow to see if i could find the owlet(s), but it sounds like they've retreated back into areas we can't reach, so any sightings now would probably be pure luck...

 

[squirl033]

talked to some folks yesterday - apparently they're in the trees up on the Main Street side of the park near where the upper trail comes out on Main Street...

 

[Bill Anderson]

Revisiting these photos due to some recent local owl sightings. Hard to believe it has been four years since I took them. One of the photos of the adult grooming the baby is my screen saver.

 

[Terry O]

Seems like a time warp, Bill - some of my fondest memories of our photo expeditions were right here in Edmonds at Yost Park.