The Postnatal Development of Two Broods of Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus)

"The Postnatal Development of Two Broods of Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus)" by Donald F. Hoffmeister and Henry W. Setzer is a scientific publication written in the mid-20th century. The book focuses on the specific developmental stages and habits of young Great Horned Owls, utilizing observational data collected from nests at the University of Kansas. It provides detailed insights into their growth, feeding behaviors, and nesting conditions. The publication chronicles two broods of Great Horned Owls observed in 1945 and 1946, detailing their incubation periods, weight growth patterns, and responses to their environment. Daily observations revealed a considerable increase in the weight of the young owls during the first few weeks, followed by a period of fluctuating growth linked to food availability provided by the parent owls. The study highlights their feeding habits, noting the diverse prey items brought to the nest, and concludes with an overview of their readiness to leave the nest at around 45 days of age, marking the transition from dependence to independence.