Great Horned Owl chick in a nest on Honeymoon Island State Park, Pinellas County, FloridaGreat Horned Owl chick in nest – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light, not baited

I spent about three months  in 2008 watching a Great Horned Owl nest on Honeymoon Island State Park in Florida from hatching until this young owl fledged. The nest was high in an old, dead pine where the best light on the nest was in the evenings. Because the nest was so high there were many evenings that I came home without the high quality images I dreamed of but each time I was there I relished being able to watch this young owl grow from a small fuzzy chick to watching it branch, stretch its wings and finally to fly away from the nest. It isn’t always about the images, some times it is about just being there.

I felt privileged to photograph this Great Horned Owl family.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to view more of my Great Horned Owl photos plus facts and information about this species.