Spotted Owl

The Spotted Owl is a seldom-seen bird, but it does live in this area(Washington County).  Ken has lived in this area most of his life, but had never seen one.  Last year he talked to a friend, a ranger in Zion National Park about it.  He suggested Ken come to the Park in late May or early June as that is when their young fledge.  Ken contacted him by email in late May and on Monday, June 1st, he wrote back saying that just that day someone had reported seeing a fledgling in Refrigerator Canyon.  Ken got that email at about 2:00pm and by 3:00pm, Ken and his brother Don were on their way to Zion (breaking social distancing- we've been very cautious.)  They got there and climbed up to Refrigerator Canyon, arriving in the canyon just before 6:00 PM.  If you have hiked in Zion, Refrigerator Canyon is that very narrow canyon about half-way to the top of Angel's Landing.  It was quite a climb, but they were richly rewarded for their efforts.  The canyon is about two blocks long.  First, they slowly hiked the entire length of the canyon together, trying to locate the owls, but with no success. After that, they separated and started looking separately-one at each end of the canyon.  That method didn't work very well because they were too far apart and couldn't communicate with each other (if they had seen their target birds). Don tried calling to Ken, but Ken didn't hear him. Thus, Don suggested that Ken look in a certain area, midway in the upper half of the canyon; while Don stationed himself about halfway in the lower half of the canyon. As it turned out, Don had stationed Ken right between the parent and his/her baby.  Although the owl and owlets were well hidden from view, the fledglings began calling to their parents for food. Ken heard those high-pitched squeaking calls and recognized that they might be coming from the owlets. The calls led him to  where he was able to get a visual of both the parent owl and the older fledgling. Later, they also saw a second baby.  It was a thrill of a lifetime for these two avid birders.  Don's hobby is  nature photography, so photo credit to him.

Parent:

The babies/fledglings: