Questions & Answers….

Studies indicate the range of life span is 20-30 years in the wild and longer if in captivity. In captivity many hazards are removed, and they eat every day and have vet services available. In the wild seldom do great horned owls die of old age, but succumb usually from natural or man-made causes. Some natural causes are injury/infection, parasitic infection, or starvation. Man-made hazards include car strikes, trapping or poisoning. They are most vulnerable during their first 8 months on the wing, whereas, if they survive their “youthfulness”, they have very few predators.

It depends on the time of year, and whether they are with nestlings or not. If they are with chicks and not on the nest, they will roost within 25 yards of the nest site, usually in thickness of pines or deciduous trees. If they are not with chicks they will roost in trees heavy with grapevines, Virginia Creeper or tangles of vegetation on trees for a hiding place. Seldom do they roost in the open.

They become sexually mature at one (males) and two (females) years of age, but frequently do not breed until 2 or 3 years of age. Their reproductive viability is approximately 18 years, but often times they will skip a year in the breeding cycle.

Yes. They are size dimorphic, as in most raptors, the female is larger/taller than the male. You will need to see both at the same time to discern the size difference. Also, in hearing their hoots, the male hoot is lower intonation. The female hoots are higher. After observing a pair over time, you will notice some behavioral differences; but, their plumage is the same.

Yes, unless it falls apart or is unavailable. If a number of nests are available in the territory, they may alternate and ‘flip flop’ between two favorite nests. They usurp nests within a territory, since they don’t build their own. Going way back in early evolution of great horned owls, they were “ledge nesters” and nested on rock outcrops/cliffs; so, the nest “building” was not necessary. Today, they don’t build, but take old nests of red-tailed hawks, crows, squirrels and even man-made platforms; whatever is available.

Very little threatens them. They are at the top of the food chain with few predators (other great horned owls and ground predators if the owl is injured). Man-made obstacles are their greatest threat (cars, windows, traps, poison, etc.).

Definitely not and it does vary with owl pairs. The primary reason that they may not mate every year is the availability, or lack of, resources (primarily food). If the adults are not in optimum condition health-wise, they do not mate. The reproductive system does not ‘kick in’ if the birds aren’t in good health. Sometimes when food isn’t abundant, nest sites aren’t available or severe habitat change (development) occurs the birds will skip a year in mating. There are many variables that may enter into the triggering of the mating cycle. Studies of the same pairs under observation for over an extended period of time (10-15 years) indicate that the birds do have interruptions in mating from year to year.

For the best result, observe it and walk on by. A number of reasons to leave it alone, but the primary reason for NOT PICKING IT UP is the female is nearby and watching it, even though you may not see her. When owlets fledge (leave the nest) they are not capable of a sustained powerful flight, so gravity is responsible for a lot of ‘ground landings.’ They will find a leaning/fallen tree and climb up with beak and feet and get off the ground. Very few, rarely in fact, are injured even though they are on the ground, so it is important to leave them alone. If taken out of their territory, they cannot be reintroduced; parents desert after 72 hours if they don’t hear or see the owlet and at that stage in the owlet’s life they are dependent on parental care.

The short answer is:

• Do you have a pair nesting in the area regularly?

• Are there natural nests already available?

• Is it necessary to supplement with a man-made platform (don’t go to the time and trouble if the birds have natural nests available)?

If it is necessary to supplement, locate the platform to a nearby previously used natural nest; same height and exposure.

Secure substantially so you don’t have to revisit the securing; include some extensions under the platform (longer pieces of wood, so owlets can “branch”).

In order to make the most of the day and get oriented to new surroundings, they usually fledge between daybreak and 10:00 a.m.. Their first “jump and glide” from the nest is usually within 25’ from the nest and in a tree/high bush that is easy for landing, it may not be high from the ground because they cannot do a sustained flight, so it’s within gliding distance. They usually do not fledge in rain but wait for better weather. They always fledge under the watchful eye of the female.

Parents stop caring for the young within the range of September through November. The young birds have acquired the hunting skills to varying degrees, learned the hunting and roosting haunts, and are somewhat wary to avoid threats. The parents, if breeding again, start their pair bonding/courtship sometime from October through December, so they are busy with each other rather than “tending children.” The young owlets have loose territorial connections and are free to range. They may stay on the perimeter of the parental habitat estate, but usually range out away from the neo-natal site. They wander into new adjacent habitat looking for new territory, hunting and roosting and wane from visiting the home territory. They are now looking for their own “greener pastures…or bigger rabbit and squirrel populations.”

This question is difficult to answer, and probably there is no general answer because the “staying together” or “separating” must be looked at as each individual case of fledging. There are a tremendous number of variables that enter into the determination. I have seen fledglings stay together even to the extent of perching on the same branch to fledglings that dispersed the first day they jumped.

The variables that determine if the fledglings stay close or not include:

• ground cover

• number of “leaners” (fallen trees that owlets can climb)

• availability of perches that owlets can be “seen” to receive food

• availability of resources (food)

• disturbance or lack of disturbance moving through an area (people, dogs, predators)

• roosting trees

• cover from avian predators and harassers (raptors, crows, blackbirds, etc.)

If a woodlot offers protection/safety for the owlets, they will stay in close proximity for approximately 7-10 days. If the woodlot does not offer protection/safety, the female will move the owlets to a safer environment. If the owlets are not in their core territory (place where the nest is located) they are more likely to disperse throughout their new environment and not hang together. If the woodlot or environment is in the core territory, they will be in close proximity.

If a nest is located and the owlets fledge, the best way to locate them after they fledge is to listen for their “hunger squeals” which is the sound alerting the female to locate them and bring food.