We usually have a pair of GH Owls nesting on the property. This year,
although there was the usual noisy hooting in winter and early spring, I
don't hear any youngsters so the nest probably failed or they put it
elsewhere.

In previous years, besides the usual pellets accumulation, I've found many
Gray Partridge feathers, a pair of Mallard wings, rabbit parts, Rock Pigeon
parts, and many Robin-sized feet under the nesting youngsters. I've seen
the parents feeding baby robins to the the owlets with the parent robins
clucking in distress.

Last year, the owls nested in an inadequate old magpie nest. (Owls don't
build their own nests. GH Owls have to find a large nest from the previous
year. Red-tailed Hawk nests are preferred.) At first, there was a steady
supply of prey leftovers under the nest. The dogs raced out to the area
every morning to look for goodies. Then a windstorm blew the nest to
pieces. The baby owls were old enough to perch on the branches and I
thought they would survive, but the rain of animals parts suddenly turned to
a trickle. I eventually found both owlets on the ground, one emaciated and
dead the other emaciated and nearly dead. (I euthanized him.) I think one
of the parents, the best hunter, died and the second parent couldn't feed
the youngsters.

The nest the previous year had been more successful with two very noisy
owlets fledging. They hung around the yard until sometime in July or so,
then I lost track of them as theu flew further afield.

Kelly Cassidy
Pullman


_____

From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of rmcclsky
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2007 7:14 AM
To: Inland NW Birds; Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Update picture of baby great-horned owls


Hi all,

I can hear these babies starting to beg about 5 pm every evening (when I'm
lucky enough to be home).

Last time I looked, I found two chicks and got pictures of both of them. You
can click on the thumbnail picture to see the full size one. Takes a while
to load as it is big.

There were some magpie feathers under the tree. Not sure if this is a
regular prey of these owls or if one just got too close when scolding.

http://canondigitalslrs.com/index.php?tag=bird

Have a good weekend,
Ron McCluskey
Cheney, WA