One of the great things about D.C. is how much green space has been preserved, especially the gem of Rock Creek Park winding through the city. One of our editors, Rob Klug, has been watching an owl family in the park over the past several years. Here are photos of the owls and their new owlets this year, in the dense park woods just a few blocks from the heavy traffic on 16th Street.
How it started
This owl couple has been living in Rock Creek Park for several years. They select a new nesting place each year. Here they are near the nesting place they have chosen for this year:
They have to guard their new nest, like when a crow tried to interfere with their nesting:
Their new babies were born in the late spring:
Their mother brings them food while they are in the nest:
Growing up
Once they were ready to leave the nest, they began to experiment with acrobatics:
Eating
The owlets learn how to find their own food:
Sleeping:
Bathing in the creek and drying off:
Looking adorable
Growing up fast this summer, on their way to becoming fierce adults:
I don’t think Barred Owls are that common in DC. Or at least I haven’t seen any in 50 years of bird watching here. So it was great to see these wonderful photographs of these owls taken in Rock Creek Park near 16th Street NW. Maybe one day a pair will come over to our Palisades neighborhood where we promise to provide lots of trees & water (& prey)!
I think there are at least two families of Barred Owls in Rock Creek – I’ve seen just the one pair a couple of times, and Rob’s been photographing them extensively, but I’ve seen photos from other people of a pair of owls much further north in Rock Creek. There was also a barred owl last year at Dyke Marsh right by the entrance, that I and lots of other people got to see. And the amazing snowy owl at Union Station for a couple of weeks two winters ago.
Wow, fantastic work, Rob! Did you ever get the sense that the owls became accustomed to your presence over the weeks and months you were photographing them?
Hi, I do feel that both of the parents recognize me. Dad is fairly comfortable with me being in the vicinity, but mom owl remains shy even after seven years. As for the owlets, one of them is pretty easy to photograph and the other one prefers to stay high up in the trees where it’s more protected.
I love the “acrobatic” picture! How did you take the photo? Simply amazing and beautiful. Great work Rob. Thanks for sharing them with us. Looking forward to your future updates about the owl family.
Hi, it was a lot of time spent waiting for something fun to happen…….and then it’s over before you know it. Thanks!