APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Birdwatching is part of life for many in Wisconsin, and Appleton’s oldest park is attracting the attention.
A family of great horned owls has occupied a nest in a tree in City Park, and the young owlets are getting noticed.
Birdwatcher and professional photographer Tim Mayer of Appleton was looking for that perfect shot Friday.
“I took advantage of the fact that the sun is shining for the first time in many days, and I’ve been out here over the course of the last week, photographing these owls,” said Mayer.
There are two adult birds, and three newborns, called owlets.
“I think that from this distance, they kind of look very cuddly, but they have very long talons,” said Mayer.
Diane Gerlach and her dog Augie stroll through the park almost every day.
“The chicks are getting bigger and bigger, and it’s fun to watch them up there, see them getting fluffy. I haven’t seen it yet, but hear somedays they dance, and you know, pop up and down like little owls do. The mother is always watching. You can walk around the tree and her head is following you,” said Gerlach.
Nestled in a nearby pine, the male great horned owl is watching, too, Gerlach says.
“The father always sits at a separate tree, maybe to get a different vantage point. The one person told me the other day he thinks it’s to get some peace and quiet. You never know,” she said.
Sloan Sullivan of Appleton and her son Beckett were checking out the birds for the first time. She said Friday’s encounter was a learning experience.
“It absolutely is. We’ve seen owls at the zoo before, but we’ve never seen them in real life out here. So it was cool to come and look for them, and see them,” Sullivan said.
“It’s a great thing to be able to come here and enjoy something like this, and to see some beautiful sunshine, shining on these little owls,” said Mayer.
Naturalists say the birds should be able to fly in about another month. They warn people to be respectful, and enjoy wildlife from a safe distance.
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