For those of us who have had a bird as a pet or simply took care of an injured one until it was healed, Flying is one of the most exciting events that you could witness, right next to them interacting with those of the same species. It is especially fascinating when the baby birds are learning to fly for the first time. Beverly Saltonstall talks about a specific species of owl, the burrowing owl, in her book, Cape Coral Burrowing Owls Don’t Hoot.
The process of egg-hatching to burrowing owl chicks becoming fledglings is a fascinating one that any bird lover wouldn’t want to miss out on. The eggs take several days to hatch, and when the first of the owlets emerge from their shells, they are unrecognizable. With big beaks and a grayish-white coating that is not made up of feathers, the owlets look as such that not many would find them adorable.
It doesn’t take them more than a week to mold that coat and grow their own feathers, resembling much more to their grown-up counterparts. One thing that Saltonstall found the most amusing was the development of the wings of the owlets, as they began to attempt their first flight independently a month after their birth. For a month before, the baby owls roam around, flapping their underdeveloped wings in an imitation of flying.
It takes them a while, but they learn to levitate a few inches off of the floor, and not long after, the baby owls are strong enough to fly in short bursts. Of course, with having to learn how to fly comes the issue of landing, which is not something that they are prepared for. Often times, the owlets tend to fall on their heads while landing or even run into each other.
Beverly Saltonstall goes into the lifestyle, habits, and developmental processes of burrowing owls in her book. Cape Coral Burrowing Owl Don’t Hoot is written in an informative and encyclopedic manner that makes it easier for the readers to understand and stay interested while getting to know all the facts that they need to know about the birds. You can get a copy of the book from Amazon and on the official website.