Owlets Must Earn Their Wings

            Have you ever seen a baby owl learn to fly? It can be quite comical yet, I imagine it must be scary for them. They don't just fly away when their wing feathers are developed, no, these baby birds must earn their wings. The first thing they'll do is stand on the edge of their nest and flap their wings like crazy to strenghten them. Then, they will courageously hop from one branch to another as they 'practice'. If they miss or try to fly before they are actually ready, the way is down, like ground down. When there, they will continue to learn while mama and daddy owl stand by to provide food and protection. Depending on the species, it can take weeks for the owlets to learn, so they can be seen hoping and flapping on the ground for quite some time.  If you do see one and it's not injured, please do not intervene. Remember that this is normal and its parents are nearby taking care of it. (If the owlet is injured, see What To Do - Injured or Sick Owl).

Fledgling owls learn to fly

One thing for sure, baby owls are adorable! 

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