From Kevin Lohman

At the end of the day, a juvenile great horned owl perches quietly on a dead branch. The golden light behind it is the glow of distant eucalyptus leaves, lit by the last rays of daylight.

This young owl is about four months old and has one sibling. Early on, it was nearly impossible to tell the two apart. But recently, this one developed an issue with its left eye-enough to distinguish it from its sibling. We’re hoping the damage won’t cause any lasting harm, but the squint has earned it a nickname: “Squinty.” Its sibling, on the other hand, goes by “Chewy” because it likes to chew on branches.

In the first photo, Squinty faces the camera with its good eye in view. In the second, you can clearly see the left eye squinting. A friend thought they had seen a foxtail in the left eye at one time, but we’re not sure if that is what caused the injury. Whatever it was, we’re hoping it’s nothing serious and that Squinty will grow out of it, strong and healthy.

Santa Cruz, California

August 2025