Hikers exploring the canyon in Lake Powell, straddling Arizona and Utah, had an extraordinary encounter when they spotted an owl swimming—a highly unusual behavior for these birds.
Owls, renowned for their aerial prowess, are not adapted for aquatic environments. The hikers were astonished to witness the bird swimming, knowing that owls generally avoid water due to their non-waterproof feathers and lack of defense mechanisms.
National Geographic confirmed that owls, when forced into water, face challenges as they cannot fly from it and must find land to dry their feathers before taking flight again. This suggested the owl spotted by the hikers might have been in distress, possibly fighting for survival.
Geoff LeBaron from the National Audubon Society identified the swimming bird as likely a young great horned owl exploring its surroundings. He speculated that the owl might have fallen from its nest, as great horned owls often nest on cliffs.
“I suspect it actually fell out of the nest,” LeBaron explained. “Great horned [owls] do nest on ledges on cliffs. This bird is young enough that the parents were probably still caring for it, so hopefully once the folks go by, the bird dried off and its parents found it.”
The hope is that the encounter ended positively for this unique and charming creature, leaving hikers with a rare and memorable wildlife experience in the heart of nature.
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