A young barred owl paid us a visit around dusk Saturday evening. I first
heard its wheezing call, then located it in a tree at the edge of the woods
less than 30 feet from where I was standing. It flew haphazardly from one
tree to another, then settled on a low, open perch to view the surroundings.
It was a curious and clumsy youngster, fumbling around at the end of a thick
mass of hemlock branches, whining the entire time. I caught a brief glimpse
of another owl nearby, which I assumed to be one of the parents; it appeared
to be following the baby. The adult, however, was quiet and well hidden in
the tall trees. The youngster remained out in the open and watched me for
several minutes before flying off to a more secluded perch in the woods. It
continued the wheezing call for another 15 minutes as darkness settled in.

-jody


Jody Breckenridge
North of Monroe, Snohomish County