Jeff, our tree-climber at RAPTOR, got this picture of the great horned owls at Mitchell Memorial Park. Full of food and pellets and owl poop and cute little owlets....but he also got a big surprise.
If you can tear your eyes away from the half-eaten mallard and the pretty dead male cardinal, look at the long, raptor-like legs in the front of the nest. See the band?
That is a red-shouldered hawk that was banded as a nestling on June 1st, 2005. From the other side of town.
Great horned owls are total hard-asses.
16 comments:
Gory!
Pretty cute little things!
You get in my Territory I eat you--gair-on-tee
Wait a second.....I thought they mostly ate mammals like skunks, rats, squirrels, feral cats & bunnies?? What's with all the birds?
Those babies must be incredibly hungry and pretty demanding!
But their owlets are adorable--
that's what I call being on top of the food chain! Thanks for the update on the RSHA banded bird!
Wow! Those babies are eating well. Guess they were saving the cardinal for dessert!
This puts a whole new spin on "Owl Babies" for me! I am sure you have read that book to your girls.
Yeah, Trix...I want my mommy (and a side of redshoulder)...
Egad!!! this is one of the most freaking amazing things I have ever seen. Ecccchh! Half a mallard and RSHA legs, with a cardinal like a cherry on top!!
WOOO!
I always thought they were primarily mammal eaters too. It is a bit gory but waaay interesting. Hey- everybody's gotta eat!
WOW... morbidly fascinating. Yet another reason for my fear of GHOWs.
I believe we may have a medical emergency here. No, it is a bit late for the Red Shouldered Hawk, but the major growth on Julie's head causes some concern.
Although The Swami does not play a doctor on TV he is familiar with the ancient medicinal arts.
First we need a cauldron.
This makes you realize why birds are ALWAYS mobbing owls. Owls look so docile and cute during the day but at night they kick butt and take names. Great photo!
What a great shot! Thanks for showing us things we would never have a chance to see otherwise.
Absolutely fascinating.
WOW! That's a great pic, something new to learn.
Thanks!
Wow, that's so interesting. The half-eaten mallard is freaky! Yep, they are the bad-a$$es of the raptor world! Gotta love 'em for that!
Gadzooks. I never realized they would go after anything as large as a mallard or as formidable as a hawk! Little birds, mice, voles, yeah, okay; but what's that about feral cats??? I don't want to know.
First time I've seen pix of owlets lying down. I can't quite decide whether they look like deformed baby seals or old-fashioned handmuffs with pretty scary looking "bling" attached. :)
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