WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Great horned owlets are huge-bodied birds for their age, and they don't often make graceful first flights from their nests.

Tome Kearney of Spokane snapped a photo of this owlet in his backyard this week as it was fledging.  For perspective, each of the landscaping blocks it's standing on are 4-inches high.

The birds often will spend a day or more hopping around the ground and up to fences, rooftops and low branches as they gain strength and confidence to fly.

They are most vulnerable to dogs, cats and other predators at this time.