APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – As a young family of great horned owls continues to grow, it is getting some attention from onlookers and photographers as well.
When comes to birdwatching, Joe Leadley tells FOX 11 great horned owls are relatively new to his list of favorites.
“There’s two babies, I’ll call them babies, side by side. And then, there’s a third one that’s a little farther away. And then, it looks like the mom is a little farther away, but close enough to see the three babies.”
Leadley first noticed the owls while visiting City Park on Monday. He returned Tuesday morning, just to check on them.
“It’s actually very cool to see the owls. We live in a different part of Appleton where there a couple more owls there. A mom, and a dad, and a baby. So we see owls on a regular basis, but just coming to City Park and seeing another family of owls, if you will.”
Naturalists say great horned owls typically don’t build their own nests, but often occupy those other birds make. The City Park owls chose a site high in one oak tree. The male owl is close, perched in this pine tree nearby. Amateur photographer Gene Rindt drove from New London to get that special shot.
“I think they’re just cute as a pumpkin. That’s why I come out here. I mean you don’t get a chance to see the great horned owls that often. And to see the little ones like this, and to get some decent pictures up close. A lot of times, they’re so far up in the trees, and that you can’t get decent shots, but it’s pretty nice here.”
Rindt says as the birds get bigger, so does the opportunity for better pictures.
“See them fly and move around from tree to tree. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Meanwhile, Joe Leadley says he’ll be back in the coming days to mark the progress of a newly-found favorite.
“Now, we can add owls to the Mother Nature’s treasures here in the City of Appleton.”
Experts say people should be respectful, and observe the birds from a safe distance.
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