Observations by bobc

these three were branching last Friday. All were high in the nest tree, in the foliage near the nest. The two in the first photo (one shy, on the right, and the other not so much on the left) are both about the same size and shared a branch. The bird in the second photo, perched on its own about 10 feet from the two in the first photo, is noticeably larger

this is the same fledgling as in my observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208359276

It is perched in a pine tree near where it spent the last two days in a willow tree.

this is its 8th day out of the nest

this is the same fledgling as in my observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208183426

This is now its seventh day out of the nest and second day in this willow tree.

the first photo was taken into the early sun, the other two the opposite way - the reason for the difference in sky color

this is the fledgling owl in my earlier observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/207691082 . Now six days since it left the nest here it is perched in a willow tree about 100 yards west of the nest tree.

I am told that there are now only four young remaining from this brood including this bird. A non-birder reported seeing a nestling fall to the ground and get taken by "a hawk" a few days before this bird left the nest.

4/22 this information has turned out to be incorrect - 4 nestlings were observed in the nest by two experienced birders on 4/16, so including this bird the brood size remains at 5.

photo 1 - a heap of goslings resting - a small part of a multiple-brood group with a number of adults to keep watch and defend. A nursery situation, safety in numbers.

photo 2 - a wider view showing the end of the nursery group where photo 1 was taken. My estimate is 80-100 goslings in the whole group, and there were 16 adults. there is a band on the left leg of the adult on the right.