Great Horned Owlet in Acton

Russell Nichols came upon and photographed this young great horned owl in Acton, before quickly moving along for its safety. MassWildlife offers this advice when finding young birds: "While baby birds may look helpless, they usually do not need your assistance unless you see visible signs of injury. If you find a hatchling or nestling (young birds without feathers) outside the nest, you can try to safely return it to its nest. The parents will not reject it if you touch it. If you find a fledgling (a young, fully feathered bird) outside the nest, leave it be. While it is spending some time hopping around on the ground learning how to fly, its parents are likely nearby still taking care of it." Read more advice about encountering other young wildlife this time of year, on their site.