Spending the first two weeks in Rocky Mountain National Park afforded us the opportunity to spend lots of time exploring and relaxing. Unlike two years ago, the winter had a sparse snow pack so by the time we arrived in Estes Park there was not an abundance of herds down low. The elk were dropping calves so the females were back in the forest and the males were on the move up toward the higher elevation.
There were three Great Horned Owl nests easily seen and all three had owlets. One nest had "bridgers" which is a stage of development for the owls just before they leave the nest. They are able to hop around from branch to branch but have not ventured far afield. July 1 is the day that this nest has fledged for the past 5 years. We went there right away and watched mom and two babies moving around the branches near the nest. When we returned on June 2, the owls had left the nest and were about 100 feet away in another tree. It's amazing how this has occurred every year at the same time!
There were three Great Horned Owl nests easily seen and all three had owlets. One nest had "bridgers" which is a stage of development for the owls just before they leave the nest. They are able to hop around from branch to branch but have not ventured far afield. July 1 is the day that this nest has fledged for the past 5 years. We went there right away and watched mom and two babies moving around the branches near the nest. When we returned on June 2, the owls had left the nest and were about 100 feet away in another tree. It's amazing how this has occurred every year at the same time!
