Unacceptable Rypstra
100 (6) (WS) Historic Nest Site
This year's miracle that landed in my lap after a good friend found out the location from someone who walks the trails frequently.
This is the second year the Great Horned Owls have used this nest site. Last year they raised three chicks successfully. This year they raised two chicks. The second chick is hiding within the nest, while this one came out to spend some time, including allopreening, with Mom. The plan is to eventually upload some videos to YouTube.
I composed this as more of an environmental shot to showcase the nest site a bit. The snag was a huge Douglas Fir tree. I have yet to go back and actually measure it's circumference at the base, now that the chicks are gone, but estimates from a distance has it ~ 6 ft in diameter, which make it one of the giants for the Pacific Northwest.
Figuring ages by diameter vary widely, but one site I found claimed the largest ones for this region, were 15-18 inches in diameter, stood 400 feet tall and were ~1000 years old. By estimation then, this snag was over 1000 years old when it died.
I'm planning on going back and finding out the circumference for a more definitive estimation sometime this spring/summer.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help but share one of my best highlights from this spring, thus far.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs, etc. without my permission.
Note: Although I love favs, I will typically respond only to those who leave a comment.
100 (6) (WS) Historic Nest Site
This year's miracle that landed in my lap after a good friend found out the location from someone who walks the trails frequently.
This is the second year the Great Horned Owls have used this nest site. Last year they raised three chicks successfully. This year they raised two chicks. The second chick is hiding within the nest, while this one came out to spend some time, including allopreening, with Mom. The plan is to eventually upload some videos to YouTube.
I composed this as more of an environmental shot to showcase the nest site a bit. The snag was a huge Douglas Fir tree. I have yet to go back and actually measure it's circumference at the base, now that the chicks are gone, but estimates from a distance has it ~ 6 ft in diameter, which make it one of the giants for the Pacific Northwest.
Figuring ages by diameter vary widely, but one site I found claimed the largest ones for this region, were 15-18 inches in diameter, stood 400 feet tall and were ~1000 years old. By estimation then, this snag was over 1000 years old when it died.
I'm planning on going back and finding out the circumference for a more definitive estimation sometime this spring/summer.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help but share one of my best highlights from this spring, thus far.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs, etc. without my permission.
Note: Although I love favs, I will typically respond only to those who leave a comment.