Owls aren’t known really for physical nest skills. At most, they’ll bring a couple leaves or something to wherever they’ve picked as their home.

Chickens get brood patches as well, from what I see. It was funny googling it to verify, there look to be lots of new chicken owners concerned about the sudden appearance of a bald patch.

We’re all here to learn, so I don’t want anyone to ever feel silly.

Yes, they would catch it giving her the intake examination, and since it’s nesting season, they can tell she is a lady owl somewhere along in the nesting process. It is a physical change that helps keep babies warm with momma’s body heat. Better conduction.

I’m glad you enjoyed it. It is one of the cutest videos I’ve found.

It’s always when you least expect it that those good things happen.

I was very envious yesterday of the lady holding that Eagle Owl, so I understand the desire. 😄

They were fabulous 😍

I think they were just larger and probably heavier in general. All the flat-topped ones were on the ground with the medium and large birds. The Screech and Boobook were on the folding tables.

They did look to be of fairly correct anatomical size and I thought of picking one up for my educational display, but I’ve already spent a good deal on it for this year. I like when these events have at least reasonably educational merch instead of just cutesy stuff. Saw a kid carrying around a nice looking Long Eared plush as well.

It certainly doesn’t look like the type of owl that needs help getting a date. Hubba hubba!

I always love the odd ones out. Those are my people/animals.

They’ve all got important roles to play!

😇

Yeah, this guy seemed to be enjoying himself pretty well. He deserves it. He was fabulous!

Thanks! Between the sun and these lovely Pennsylvania “roads” I fat fingered that one.

I dunno, this one looked exactly this raggedy last year. 😀

They look so pathetic, I love molting Screeches so much!

Unsure if Aussies have voles. 🤔

Wiki says they like mice, rats, and insects.

The photos didn’t do it justice. Such an amazing bird, beautiful colors, those orange eyes… I wanted to squish the dickens out of it. 😍

Buzzard is a really strange word that seems to take on quite a wide range of meanings depending on where one is in the world.

The one thing that popped up as a quick fact was buzzard comes from the Old French buisart, meaning “inferior hawk,” which I felt was quite rude. A little more reading though seemed to indicate that it was just the hawks they felt weren’t great for falconry purposes.

Buzzards are genus Buteo, which includes the Red Tailed Hawk, probably the most popular falconry bird here in America, so I think the buzzards should get an apology.

My wife was off today since we had a wedding to go to last night, so she got to come with me this year. We both got to hold Fable and take pics, but they really didn’t come out great due to sun and Fable got a bit distracted looking every which way but to make a nice photo.

I did get some direct eye contact, with her, and the speed she can dilate and constrict her pupils is unreal! Some photographers would love to have autofocus like she has.

Sweet little Barn Owl