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Native Californian, biologist, wildlife conservation consultant, retired Smithsonian scientist, father of two daughters, grandfather of four. INTJ. Believes nature is infinitely more interesting than shopping malls. Born 100 years too late.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Young fluffies



We baited this set for small carnivores of the four-legged warm-blooded variety, and that's what we got.

But in addition a pair of young fluffies showed up and used the rocks as a perch.

They seem to be finishing their molt.

As Hans Peeters remarked in Field Guide to the Owls of California and the West, juvenile western screech owls have a loose-feathered look until they molt into their adult plumage.

It's that young fluffy look that makes immature owls so appealing.

5 comments:

Denis said...

hello

How did you bait the owl, was it a live bait?

Trailblazer said...

cute little buggers.

Nice catch, Codger!

owlman said...

Great photos Chris and without the use of owl vocalizations or model owls?

sideroadtravels said...

i like the idea of the rock background i think i'll try that myself, thanks!

Camera Trap Codger said...

No live bait, no recorded calls. Owls roots on perches like this -- occasionally or regularly. It just depends on the situation. We've gotten photos like this before.