From Deb Powell

I walked into the woods and found the broken palm that my friend had told me about. She said there was a family of Barred Owls living in it with 2 owlets.

I arrived early and waited, standing on a berm above a stream far below and behind me. The sounds, as I stood in silence, were the water’s babbling sounds and Swallow- tailed Kites calling from above the canopy. There were Zebra Long-wing butterflies, a Pileated woodpecker calling and working on a dead tree for insects…but no owls. As I stood and quietly waited, I finally heard the adult owls calling to each other from further back on the trail.

Suddenly the owlets appeared from the deep opening in the tree, clumsily climbing and flapping to get up out of the hole. They were so perfect; the twins!

With my camera lens was focused on them, I was taking so many images. I wasn’t sure how long they would stay out and they were so animated I didn’t want to miss a thing! After a while the adult owl flew in and landed behind the twins. I held my breath for what felt like a long time but actually was only a few moments. I couldn’t believe my eyes! The perfect pose of the twins both looking right at me and mom looking so proud of her beautiful owlets.

What an amazing experience in the quiet of the woods! I hope you enjoy this image my friends.

Palm City, Florida