Baby owls

Elsa

‘Baby owls, called owlets or nestlings, hatch 3 to 5 weeks after the eggs are laid, depending on the species. Because eggs are laid on different days, the female will generally begin incubation with the first egg, and the eggs will hatch in the order they were laid. This is called asynchronous hatching, which results in different age nestlings within the same nest. The first nestlings to hatch can be one to two weeks older than the last ones to hatch. 

When young owls hatch, they are covered with white, downy feathers and their eyes are closed. Several days after hatching, their eyes open and their white downy feathers are replaced with darker ones, often gray or brownish. When the female sits on a nest of hatched chicks it is called brooding. For the first couple weeks of life nestlings are helpless; they are unable to see, fly, or thermoregulate (maintain their own body temperature). Their mother broods them by keeping them safely under and around her in the nest. 

Male owls hunt and bring food to the nest. Female owls will often tear the prey into smaller pieces and feed them to the nestlings. Owls grow quickly and within weeks begin to eat some prey whole, spit up pellets, and thermoregulate.

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​By autumn, most parents are finished raising their families. The fledglings have grown their adult feathers, and they are now full-sized owls. The young adults are ready for life on their own. Although owls have been known to live up to 25 years, the average life span for most species is probably much lower. Generally, the larger species of owls live longer than the smaller species.’ (Info here) 

Let’s continue to the next part – Are owls wise?

Start at the beginning – Who is Odus?