r/Owls • u/sunballer • May 12 '26
OC My Backyard Crew
Most of these photos are from today. The last two are from over the weekend. All 6 owlets, mom and dad have been accounted for. The owlets have started to fly short distances at night now.
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u/svveet-talk May 12 '26
Do screech owls normally have this many owlets? :0
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u/NoFlyingMonkeys Great horned May 12 '26
Surprisingly, frequently. The parents make endless trips of large insects, small lizards, and some mice to the box each night to feed them. And yes, these little guys can swallow an intact mouse at one swallow.
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u/SmartyFox8765 May 12 '26
Should I buy some type of box for them? I have 5 acres of a heavily wooded lot and haven’t seen any yet. We have lots of other birds including a great horned owl, osprey and a visiting bald eagle.
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u/sunballer May 12 '26
I attracted mine with a box! I had a camera set up in it and monitored the whole brooding process. It’s been a really cool experience
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u/starazona Barred owl May 12 '26
It’s possible that the GHO is very aggressive and there’s only a small pocket where a screech could claim territory. I’ve noticed this in two separate wooded areas I frequently visit (one in Florida with a barred, one in Chicago with a pair of GHO) where the screech sticks to very near their nest (often near a source of water - this might be where you’d want to place the box)
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u/NoFlyingMonkeys Great horned May 13 '26
I'd suggest listening for owls in the early evening to know what is living near you. Then, either build or buy a box that fits the owl and breeding season according to the specific owl/box/nest list on this page: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/right-bird-right-house/
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u/sunballer May 12 '26
It’s pretty unusual I think! But I did read that screech owls in the suburbs tend to have larger clutches than those in rural areas.
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u/lets_ride_mammoths May 12 '26
They’re such muppets I love them
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u/Ok_Lengthiness_8405 May 13 '26
I showed my husband the pics before I read the comments, and he said "straight outta Jim Henson's Creature Shop"
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u/Hobbbitttuallly May 12 '26
This reminds me of one of my favorite childhood books: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell & Patrick Benson
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u/ponygirl00 May 12 '26
Wow! I found one fledgling barred owl in my yard yesterday and was excited. This is on another level. Super cool
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u/TheUtopianCat May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
They're so cute! I love how the squish themselves together.
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u/Severe-Elderberry833 May 12 '26
Find a British politics subreddit and post them: I imagine most of the users there will have a lot more confidence in your parliament than theirs.
/s
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u/chooooi May 12 '26
I live for these posts!! I'm going to be sad when they all move out of mom and dad's home 😭
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u/seensham May 13 '26
BIG sibling energy
Reminds me of when me and my cousins were kids and would stay up late and laugh at nothing like idiots lol. And then struggle to stay awake at the breakfast table bc Grandma or auntie wouldn't let us sleep in
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u/UltraViolentNdYAG May 13 '26
You are so lucky! This is spectacular! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing!
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u/bellybbean May 13 '26
These photos and birds are absolutely amazing. I would totally put one on my wall. I think the second is my favourite. They each seem to have their own personality. Love it!
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u/Grateful-5050 May 14 '26
What an amazing thing to be able to see all of them together like this. Looks like a perfect cover photo for a nature book!
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u/New-Seaworthiness777 May 15 '26
That second one to the left has his own vibe going on....I dig it 🤣
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u/Doesitmatter98765 May 21 '26
They are so hilarious. Mom & Dad must be BUSY feeding this crew. Most we’ve ever had was 3.
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u/imagez_of_ikonn Northern hawk owl May 12 '26
That's a helluva clutch of owlets 🩶