A great horned owl family at Silverwood Park received a nest remodel from the Raptor Center a few months ago, following the rescue of an owlet that had been found on the ground near the nest.
The owlet had been about 5 to 7 days of age, said Victoria Hall, veterinarian and Raptor Center director. It was brought to the Center for a health check and found to be a healthy baby with signs that it was recently fed by its parents. The Raptor Center kept it overnight, giving it heat support and food, Hall said. The bird, which had a negative test for avian flu, was returned to the nest the next day.
“The nest that it fell out of was not in great shape,” Hall said. She explained that great horned owls do not build their own nests and sometimes the nests they choose might not be structurally sound. “ Because of the state of the nest it fell out of, we created an artificial nest to replace the flimsy nest and with the help of a volunteer tree climber attached the new nest to the tree and placed the family of babies in this new and improved home,” she said.
Hall said that each situation can be very different when baby raptors need help. She encourages the public to give the Raptor Center if they have any questions or concerns about a baby in need. “We can work with the finder to determine what might need to happen next to give the baby the best chance possible,” she said.
Alyssa Baguss, supervisor at Silverwood Park, said that visitors have been very respectful of the owls’ nest this year. “When animals become ambassadors like that for parks, it’s really great. When people love something they advocate for that; it becomes very important to them, and our site becomes very important. It’s been a very lovely experience for both the staff and the public this year.”
Below, in order:
The family in the new nest once it had been placed in the tree. (provided by the Raptor Center)
The baby during its overnight stay at the raptor center. Owls that young might imprint on humans, so mirrors are placed so that the owl is looking at something that looks like itself, rather than humans. (provided by the Raptor Center).
The mother owl feeds one of the young on June 2. (photo by Karen Kraco)
One of the owlets in front of the outstretched wing of its mom on June 2. She was stretching behind the owlet. (photo by Karen Kraco)
One of the owlets stretching its wings on June 2. (photo by Karen Kraco)
