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Trial... and Error!

From Hancock County Naturlalists

About 1 second after this photo was taken this morning, 2 things were learned:

  1. Owlet learned he could not fly!
  2. I learned Owlets can swim!

Its flight lasted about 5 feet and SPLASH...right in the middle of the river! It just kind of was a blob in the water. I am thinking to myself...OH NO am going to have to go on a rescue mission! After a few seconds it started using its wings to paddle itself through the water. However, instead of going to the opposite bank it came back to where it took off, but a little more wet!

22 comments

  • I never gave thought to it before, but it makes sense they would be able to float for a while, being so light for their volume. Even the Fish Owls and Fishing Owls try to avoid getting wet though, so it is not a common occurrence.

    Here's a short Audubon article about an adult being forced to swim after an unsuccessful nest takeover attempt. It has a very short video clip of an adult GHO doing the breast stroke.

    • Wow that's so interesting! It was really cool to see him use his wings like that! Now I'm trying to remember if there was a scene in the Guardians of Gahoole books where the owls got soaked... I'm due for a reread but I only have 3 of the books lol

      • Ugh, I still haven't gotten around to checking out GoG yet. I feel it's kinda mandatory for me at this point.

        I'm still not done What an Owl Knows yet, and someone else had me download some Discworld I havent gotten to, and I'm only about a 1/4 into Link's Awakening. So much owl adjacent media to cover! 😵

  • It looks relaxed while swimming or is it rather "omg omg omg" in its head?

    • It does look a bit calmer than I had pictured. Was expecting more cat-like indignance.

      From the story, it's probably mainly glad it escaped without injury, and is probably already plotting revenge on the falcons/crows that gave it a hard time.

      Good to see you in the comments again as well! I had been feeling there had been a few people I hadn't seen in a bit so I wonder how you all are doing.

      • I always love your superb posts. Sometimes I'm a lazy commenter tough lol.

        Life also likes to throw unexpected random tasks and problems and I've had my fair share the last few months...

      • I was just thinking I should make a point to check in lol. We start negotiations tomorrow with the whole newly unionized hospital thing. So I've been busy just avoiding life in the run up to that shenanigans.

22 comments