CWC Releases
Great Horned Owlets
and the New Nest
May 10, 2014
 



I have been very fortunate whenever Robin Graboski, the director of Centre Wildlife Care (CWC), the animal rehabbing facility of central Pennsylvania, asks me to photograph a release. On April 21, 2014, she had three releases, allowing three photo ops.

The first involved returning two baby great-horned owls (or great-horned owlets) to an improvised nest.

 
Great-horned owlet
 

Actually, only one of the owlets had fallen from this nest; the second fell out of a nest much farther away.

The new nest involved a professional tree climber ascending the tree, installing the nest, and placing the owlets in it.

 
Tree climber and nest
 

Yes, the new nest is a straw basket. Robyn knows how to improvise.

All went smoothly, and the two owlets were safely left in their new home.

 
Great-horned owlets at home
 

Subsequently, the homeowner reported that the parent great-horned owls were feeding both youngsters.

Success!

I've a photo album with more photos and text about this release on Facebook for Centre Wildlife Care (which is a public page and open to everyone).

Overall, the three releases included the two great-horned owlets (on this page) as well as a short-tailed shrew and a saw-whet owl.

Photo note: I used a Pentax K20D, with the SMC-DA* 60-250mm lens for these photos, taken on 21 April 2014.




Note: Earlier in 2014, I photographed for CWC a grebe and duck release.

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