We heard the Great Horned owls calling in the early morning, so knew they were in the area. For the third year in a row, we camped at Meaher State Park in Spanish Fort Alabama, this time at site 50, directly cross from the Delta Boardwalk trail. We visit in the spring, but the timing varies, and we always heard but rarely saw the owls. Heading out on the Boardwalk with binoculars and camera that first chilly morning, I found two owls sitting on branches in full view, several yards apart.
As I walked back to the RV another birder asked what I saw. I mentioned seeing the pair, and asked if she knew of a nest. She then told me that the baby owl had been seen in the pines near her campsite, not too far from ours. Later, another person told us they nest year each year.
We kept watch on the pines and later in the day realized the young owl moved to the tree directly across from us. At first it hugged the trunk of the tree, but later moved out further. Many people stopped to look up at it as they walk by, but located high enough up in the tree with Mom and Dad nearby it never looked upset or nervous, just watched them as they watched it.
Nichter Photography PLUS 