First Baby Picture

Two of the West Drive owl babies -- Saturday, March 4, 2006
Photo by Bruce Yolton

Note: We're trying to figure out a time frame. The eggs were probably laid during the last week of January. The incubation period is 26 to 30 days. The hatch may have been during the last week of February, since the owlets look to be about two weeks old [NB: ALL THESE FIGURES ARE VAGUE GUESSES] The nestlings leave the nest after about 28 days. SO, if we are close to being right, the young should fledge in about two weeks.


AND NOW AN IMPASSIONED PLEA:

For those readers of this site who live in NYC and plan to visit the West Drive screech-owl nest for the first time or have done so once or twice, and also, for those who are already regular owl-benchers,

PLEASE consider that this is a very vulnerable stage for these creatures. PLEASE be silent as you watch. PLEASE do not use flash cameras!!! Please do not bring your dog with you to watch a fly-out.

And please do not go into the wooded area where the owls hunt after fly-out. I know many of us have done this in the past. And I know this may actually make no difference at all. But JUST IN CASE...