On Friday May 20th I received a call from Fred Rowley that he was watching a Red-tailed Hawk nest that contained both a young hawk and an owl. On Sunday May 22nd as a final stop on a Ramblin' Rose Birding Adventures trip we went to the nest location. True enough inside the nest was a young Red-tailed Hawk with a young Great Horned Owl. During the hour plus we observed the nest, the hawk practiced and strengthened it's muscles by jumping and flapping in the wind at the edge of the nest. The young owl remained hunkered down for some time but eventually stood and stretched. Both birds appeared close to fledging age. I called a photographer in hopes that this unique situation could be photo documented. Unfortunately he arrived this morning May 25th and the birds had fledged/branched. The Great Horned Owl is still in the nest tree but the Red-tail has departed. So we are left with some very poor point and shoot photos through a spotting scope for documentation. If anyone is interested in following the rest of this drama (as it is doubtful that the adult Red-tails will feed and care for a branching Great Horned Owl) the directions are as follows. Take the Thorpe exit heading south west to Killmore Road. Turn right on Killmore proceeded approximately one and a half miles (past the first 90 degree bend in the road) and the nest is on the left in a row of cottonwoods on private property - next to a pale yellow house with dark green trim and an amusing dog in the front yard.

Penny Rose