Great Horned Owlets - Pre-Flight Checklist
The two Great Horned Owlets (Bubo virginianus) are now preparing to fly: They hop from one side of the nest to the other, or climb a branch and hop back into the nest. This “almost-ready-to-fly” behavior where they flap to nearby branches is called “branching.” Here’s a short video of one of the young ones and mom, and then the two siblings doing what siblings do best, annoying each other in a far-too-small nest :-)
Music is “Lickety Split Rag”, written by me.