Cape Eagle-Owl chick (Kaapse Ooruil)

Description:

First saw the chick in a dead tree, went back to fetch my camera and found it on the ground eventually. Next day went back to check if it was ok and found it about 3 m high in a pine tree. The spotting was in the flat Karoo near Carnavon.

Habitat:

The Cape Eagle Owl is predominantly found in mountainous regions and hilly areas with rocks. Rocky gorges excavated by rivers and adjacent wood gulleys may also hold them. They prefer a scattering of vegetative coverage, which they may use for roosting or concealment during nightly hunts, though they predominantly breed, roost and hunt on rocks. They are not wholly tied to rocky environments and may be found in some numbers in flat karoo in the Cape Province. They are not known to occur at sea-level. On occasion, these owls may wander into human settlements or even towns, often specifically to predate abundant rock pigeons. (From Wikipedia)