Juvenile Burrowing Owl – Maturing But Still Awkward And Clumsy

Juvenile Burrowing Owl plumage changes rapidly as they mature, as does their awkwardness. But this one is still amusingly clumsy. And a little dense.

 

 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

Just a couple of weeks ago the young birds at this burrow in Box Elder County had unmarked buffy bellies and breasts but their dark brown markings there are developing rapidly. They’re also becoming a little less curious and goofy-acting but they still have a lot to learn. The following incident is an example.

Two mornings ago this youngster was perched on an old rusty fence post when it decided…

 

 

1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

that a wing and leg stretch was in order. But during the stretch as it lifted its right foot off the post…

 

 

 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

the owl began to lose its balance…

 

 

 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

so it had to use its wings to recover.

 

 

 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

It actually did very nearly fall off the post.

 

 

 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

It didn’t but this is where things became amusing to watch. You’ll notice that there’s very little room on the top of the post to the right side of the left foot and every time the owl tried to place its right foot there it slipped or came off again. This is not a leg-stretch, the bird repeatedly (over roughly 15 seconds or so) attempted to place its foot on top of the post and failed. So it just stood there for a long time, looking silly with its leg hanging down…

 

 

 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

and tried to figure out what was going on.

 

 

 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

Eventually it gave me this sheepish look like it was trying to see if I’d noticed its embarrassing predicament, figured that I had and…

 

 

 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

immediately dived down to the entrance to its burrow just below the post and disappeared down the hole in what almost seemed like embarrassment.

And yes, I did snicker a little at the predicament of this young owl. Felt badly about it but did it anyway…

Ron