A reader clued me in on this fantastic Great Horned Owl sighting. What we have here is a pair of four to five week old owlets waiting patiently in the nest while their parents are out hunting. This is a first for me, I have never seen Great Horned Owls nesting on a transmission tower before.
It is said that Great Horned Owls do not make nests of their own. Instead they take over the nests of other birds. The large nests built by American Crows, Red-tailed Hawks, and Great Blue Herons are favored by these owls.
I have found a couple of examples of Great Horned Owls nesting in the midst of a Great Blue Heron rookery. This situation creates a very interesting dynamic, where a powerful predator is stationed in such close proximity to potential prey. Posts covering this kind of nesting arrangement can be found here: Great Horned Owl – VCDB Nest.
As for the owl’s nest on the transmission tower, I believe it is the one time home of a Red-tailed Hawk that has been commandeered. I have seen an example of a Red-tailed Hawk nesting on an near identical tower in another part of town. The hawk’s nest was located in almost the exact same place on the structure. You can read about that sighting here: Red-tailed Hawk – Transmission Tower.
Great sighting. Such fuzzy ghostly-looking little fellows those babies are.
It’s hard to tell where one ends and the other one begins!
This remarkable sighting of Great Horned Owlets nesting on a transmission tower is truly captivating. Typically, these owls are known for repurposing nests built by other birds, such as American Crows, Red-tailed Hawks, and Great Blue Herons, rather than constructing their own. This unique behavior leads to interesting dynamics, especially when they nest near potential prey, such as in a Great Blue Heron rookery. The current nest on a transmission tower, likely taken over from a Red-tailed Hawk, adds a fascinating twist to their nesting habits. Observing these young owlets patiently waiting while their parents hunt offers a rare glimpse into the adaptability and survival strategies of Great Horned Owls in urban settings. This sighting underscores the importance of preserving diverse habitats that support such extraordinary wildlife behaviors.