12 June 2025

When Charity Kheshgi and I visited Frick Park last weekend to see the barred owl fledglings we thought we saw three youngsters at the same time but we doubted ourselves. Barred owls (Strix varia) usually have only one or two youngsters per year. Yesterday we went back to see them again and saw FIVE youngsters, an unusually high number.

Charity arrived at the Hutchinson entrance ahead of me and saw five fledglings. By the time I arrived one had flown off but at the end of our stay the mother owl came in with prey and all five crowded round for a bite to eat. It was only a chipmunk, not a full meal for a family of five, so as soon as it was gone she left to find more.

Enjoy Charity’s photos and videos of the owl family. Eventually they attracted a crowd of humans.

Five barred owl fledglings at Frick Park + mother, 11 June 2025 (photos by Charity Kheshgi)

The family is hanging out near the Hutchinson entrance. Your best bet for finding them is to listen for upset songbirds.