First flight

I have been watching my local barn owls as they have clearly been feeding young. Now…

Two young owls have started branching. First nervously coming to see their new world. Then the slow realisation mum and dad aren’t going to feed them as much anymore. And then exploring their wings

Once again I felt privileged to see this moment. It was simply magical watching them take in their new world and begin to interact with it. They weren’t sure about planes (they will need to be, they live on a flight path); they weren’t sure about parakeets (they will need to be, they live in an area with hundreds of them). I have watched the parent birds through the spring and summer. Watched the work to feed the chicks. Now I have watched the chicks begin their lives on their own, soon to be out on their own. I hope I will get to see them develop into adults and have chicks of their own.

The first of the young owls to take to flying. Berkshire, UK. August 2022