From A Place Called Hope
This baby is too young to be out of his/her nest spot. At this age, they are doomed on the ground. Mom might feed a nest fall victim at first, but the babies who remain in the actual nest takes priority and Mom can't sit on babies in two places.
If you come across a baby bird on the ground, that is not mobile and is downy covered, it needs intervention.
A Place Called Hope works seven days a week when it comes to the birds we cater to, which include all birds of prey, vultures, and the corvids (crows, ravens, bluejays).
This little one will return to a wild nest asap. The nest tree is posing a challenge. It's not a good one for our climbing team. The nest itself is over 80 feet (24.5 meters) up with few limbs. It's incredible this baby is uninjured!
Fledged birds will have adult feathers. If they are moving about and doing things, they are likely fine and just doing owl things. Fuzzy, down covered ones like this can't escape danger or get food, so they do need help. Please do not give them food or water. Note your location (so the animal can be returned home), and get it to a rescue for the best chance of a positive outcome.
"I'm the Baby, gotta love me!"
Most of the tales I see of owl nest encroachment seem uneventful. The owls probably consider it rude, but with as big and noisy and clumsy in trees as we probably seem, it's not as though we're sneaking up on them, so there's probably a lessened sense of danger. The parents just seem to hang nearby and observe in the photos I see. It's not like they can snatch the babies off to safety or anything.
I shared an article here once about the "olden days" of owling, and the one group wanted to monitor a Flammulated Owl nest. They just chainsawed a slice out of the back side so they could stuff a camera in there and the owl was inside the whole time and didn't freak out or really seemed bothered, at least the way the author told it.
They also will look for Short Ear Owls nests in the grasslands by running a rope between a pair of 4 wheelers and dragging it through the grass to flush out the parents. Again, I dont think they are thrilled, but they return to business as usual right after.
For murder machines, owls seem rather chill most of the time.
Today, I learned! All we seem to have near here (mixed pasture and cedar woods) are the kind that say "who cooks for you?". I can't remember the species, but they seem cool. No mouse problem this winter. I give owl neighbors all the credit.
The Barred Owl is the one that cooks for you!
They are very cool, but dont get too close this time of year. They'll swoop!
I shall not, I like them out on the edge of the woods.