Owl Central: Spotted Owls

Spotted Owls
Spotted Owls are opposites to the Burrowing Owl when it comes to preferences in habitat. While the Burrowing Owl prefers open spaces, Spotted Owls prefer forested areas... more specifically, old-growth forests. There's plenty of their prey in these areas, and good spots for nesting.
But this preference is leading to their downfall. Three of the four Spotted Owl species are endangered! Logging and lumbering companies are cutting down the old-growth forests. Spotted Owls, who are usually stay-in-one-place birds, have to move to already-occupied areas. Then they have to fight with other Spotted Owls, or move to a bad spot for living. And the prey's being cut down by lumber activity, which leads to starvation and death of more Spotted Owls.
However, work is being done to try and save the Spotted Owls. Both the U.S.A. and Canada are putting aside regions in order to help save the Spotted Owls. But it's not totally helping... Spotted Owls are still disappearing thanks to logging corporations and their actions.
Climate and altitude can affect different factors of the mating and breeding season. The mating season begins either in early March, or even up to late May, depending on the climate. Momma incubates her eggs alone, being fed by Dada. The incubation period can last to different times, thanks to the climate and altitude.
Spotted Owls don't lay a lot of eggs. Usually, a female lays only two eggs! However, there have been cases of three eggs laid. There are cases of four eggs being laid as well, but those are unusual cases.
Momma usually stays and incubates the owlets even after they're born. But when they are around 6 days old, Momma begins to leave on short flights to help Dada hunt for food. These trips continue for a while. As the chicks get older, Momma can leave them for longer time periods. This process of chicks-growing-older-and-food-hunting-trips-grows-longer lasts while the chicks are growing up for a good, long bit.
Owlets eventually become fledged around when they are 5 weeks old. But they don't have a ton of flying feathers. This can lead them to fluttering to the ground. You might think, "Great, that chick's dead!", or "Those chicks are in deep trouble!", but you'd be wrong! The chicks can use their talons and beaks to climb back up the tree to their nest! That's cool!