Here are images of Shadow taken at weekly intervals from the ages of around two to eight weeks inclusive.  Note the development of the facial disk and the wing feathers.  Size is not exactly to scale, but is as close to accurate as we could get, representing the ever-increasing size of the young bird.  She has gone from being a tiny nestling who could fit in the palm of an adult's hand to being a 30cm tall fledgling with powerful gripping talons, a strong tearing beak and a wingspan of over 80cm.  Barn Owls normally fledge at approximately eight to nine weeks of age.
 

Feeding Time

Consideration	Preparation	Predation	Consternation	Satiation

Feeding can be a grisly affair, as owls are true carnivores.  At five weeks of age, Shadow's predatory instincts are developing along with her muscles and talons.  Her instinct is to "foot" her meal with her talons and tear at it with her beak.

The prey animals fed to raptors in care are humanely killed by the suppliers using gas induction according to strict ethical rules and guidelines, then stored in a freezer and thawed out before being presented to the birds.
 

"Owl-ly McBeal":  Weight Obsessed
Well, maybe not obsessed, but weighing is part of keeping tabs on a young bird's progress.

 

Three weeks / 300g	Four weeks / 440g

 

Six weeks / 440g	Seven weeks / 430g	Eight weeks / 400g

 

From the indications on the scale, it is easy to see that the owlet reaches full body weight within the first few weeks of life.  From that point on, energy is dedicated to development, rather than just "growth."  Baby fat stores are converted to muscle and feather.  Fledglings tend to leave the nest at average weights slightly higher than those of adult birds to allow them some reserves to survive on while they learn to hunt.

Some nine months after these photographs were taken, Shadow underwent another growth phase as she approached her first birthday, developing more muscle mass, primarily in her legs and flight muscles.  At fourteen months of age, she weighed 410g and had become an extremely competent aerialist, capable of vertical take offs, power dives, sustained silent flight and brief periods of almost stationary hovering flight.