2025 Barred Owls Branch Out And Explore The Forest

Moss and Maple have officially graduated to their next stage of development! The owlets from the 2025 Wild Birds Unlimited Barred Owl Cam took their first steps out of the nest box on May 11. One adventurous owlet leapt to a nearby tree to begin exploring, and the second joined its sibling on May 12 as they ventured out together. Watch above to relive these milestone moments!

Outdoor Adventures

Thanks to the addition of a new exterior camera this season, we were able to follow the fledglings’ treetop adventures until they ventured out of view on May 13. On May 12, one owlet balanced on branches, scaled a tree trunk, and navigated some tricky spots in the canopy before being visited by an adult for a long preening session and some encouragement!

The Next stage

After leaving the nest box, young Barred Owls can’t fly well yet, but they excel at climbing, hopping, and fluttering to navigate the treetops. The parents play a crucial role in continuing to watch over their offspring as they learn to fly and catch food. Barred Owls may start making short flights at about 6 weeks old, but it takes about 10–12 weeks for the young owls to refine their flight skills. They may begin to catch prey about 8 weeks after branching, but adults will continue to feed their young until they are ready to disperse at up to 4–5 months old.

We’d like to offer a special thanks to everyone who watched and learned along with us this season. We’re also grateful to cam host and Wild Birds Unlimited Founder and CEO Jim Carpenter for sharing the lives of these owls as they grow up in his backyard.

We’ll continue to post any updates on the cam’s Mastodon and X/Twitter accounts if they are spotted in their territory, and we’ll be looking forward to spending time with the Barred Owls again next season.