The Last Day

Baby owls are called owlets. Great Horned Owl owlets (Bubo virginianus) are nearly naked, and their eyes are closed at the time of hatching. At about one week of age, the owlets' fluffy white down is replaced by grayish down; at ten days old, their eyes open. The female continues to brood the young owlets for a couple of weeks. Young may leave nest and climb on nearby branches at 5 weeks. They can fly at about 9-10 weeks and are tended and fed by parents for up to several months. This image was made on the last day before it flew away from this perch with its parents. Photo © copyright by Robert Faucher.

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