FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Early Nestlings

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

March 7, 2003
Shelby Co. TN

The Great Horned Owls started calling back in early December around my house. 
They returned after quite a few years absence. The male has called all week 
from a perch just outside my window and it is nice to listen to the varying 
calls and subtle undertones at close range. Wednesday he called till 5:28 AM. 
Occasionally I can hear the female answer but only when things are perfectly 
still. She is far away and I haven't spent a lot of time looking for a nest 
as I'm surrounded by housing projects and I'd hate to draw attention to such 
an urban nest. The good news is that all the cats have disappeared from my 
two acres.

While driving around this week, I located two other Great Horned nests and 
both have young. I photographed one nest with two very large but still fuzzy 
babes. The other nest has young but they are very small and Mom is still 
brooding during the day. I saw a wisp of whitish feathers sticking out at her 
side.

The surprise nest I found today was a Red-tailed Hawk's nest. I had seen two 
Red-tails copulate in late January, which I thought was pushing it a bit but 
today I watched one adult bring food to a nest and proceed to tear it up and 
patiently feed it to unseen nestlings. I would believe this is a pretty early 
date for Red-tailed Hawks to have hatched young.

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


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