Great Horned Owl

Click on READ MORE for the full post. Click on the blog photo to see full size and detail. If leaving a comment, please provide a hint who you are.

Word got around here that there was an active great horned owl nest in south College Station. The tree is located in an empty lot next to a very active road. Part of the lot has construction / ground work started for the new JP office. The county was notified of the nest and a barricade was placed around the tree. I talked to one of the construction workers and he said the tree was not on the part land that was being developed for the county building. Other ground cover and small trees have been taken down around the nest tree. When you hear of wildlife losing habitat, this is a classic example.

One internet source says nests are seldom used multiple years. I am betting this nest has been there more than just this year looking at the construction. This nest is very similar to what I've seen with eagles (was this a re-purposed hawk nest or another species?). It would be great to see such a nest being built but I've never been that fortunate. Supposedly, they will use nest boxes but I have a hard time believing this owl would trade this penthouse luxury condo for a cramped box. Who knows...?

I have not heard anyone spotting two adults even though owl pairs are monogamous. Incubation is 30 - 37 days with nesting around 42 days. Spoiler alert - both owlets are now out of the nest on adjacent branches and starting to test their wings.

Two owlets hatched and are doing well. I took this photo on February 28 as the youngsters were big enough to poke their heads above the nest. I only saw this one owlet that day. It was so windy that I wasn't sure I was holding the camera still enough for a good photo! At this point, the owlet was still covered in white downy feathers. It looks like there is a paper bag in the nest just in front of the chick. Can you imagine the work load of the adult finding food for two chicks?

Thanks,

Doug White