Barred Owlets, Artemis And Apollo, Leave The Nest Box

The curtains have closed on the 2026 Wild Birds Unlimited Barred Owl Cam season! Both owlets have now left the nest box and begun exploring the surrounding woodlands. The older owlet, Artemis, first stepped onto the sticks in front of the nest box—nicknamed “the porch”—on the evening of May 16 before climbing up the pignut hickory tree beside the box. The younger owlet, Apollo, followed its sibling into the woods a few days later on the morning of May 19. Watch highlights of their last few days in the nest box below.

Life outside the nest box is full of new challenges and discoveries for a young Barred Owl. Recently branched owlets spend much of their time climbing through nearby trees and exploring their surroundings.

Over the coming weeks, Artemis and Apollo will gradually gain strength and coordination, progressing from awkward hops and fluttering flights at 6 weeks old to confident flights through the forest canopy by around 10–12 weeks old. The young owls will also eventually learn to catch their own prey, which typically starts around 8 weeks of age. The parents will continue to supply their young with food and watch over them until they are ready to leave their natal territory at around 4–5 months old.

We’d like to thank everyone who followed Artemis and Apollo’s journey this season, as well as our cam host and Wild Birds Unlimited founder, Jim Carpenter, for sharing his backyard nest box for the 13th consecutive year. We wish this year’s fledglings the very best and hope to see you again for another season in 2027.