(If you subscribe to PABIRDS you saw this news over the weekend.)
After the great horned owl fledgling was rescued in Schenley Park on Tuesday March 29 and an adult was seen nearby on Thursday morning, I made it my mission to find the nest. At first I came up empty. There were no big stick nests in any of the hillside trees.
Then, late Friday afternoon I took another look at the underside of the Anderson Bridge.
Faintly through the trees I saw two owlets walking on a girder!
On Saturday I brought my scope and discovered that the “branching” owlets and their mother were quite visible from the Junction Hollow Bike Trail below the bridge. Here are two (lousy!) photographs I took through my scope.
Above, mother owl and one owlet pose on the girder. Below, the second owlet is perched just below the nest. Later he flew from girder to girder and landed near his mother. The blue box highlights him in the washed-out photo.
On Sunday I visited the trail again and Nathan Mallory used my scope to take this photo of the two owlets sleeping. You can see their stick nest above them on the lattice.
So there were three owlets in this nest. The first is in rehab. The other two will probably fly soon.
p.s. As you can see, the Anderson Bridge is very rusty! It will be completely replaced in a few years, after the Greenfield Bridge is done.
(photos by Kate St. John and Nathan Mallory)
Awwww Kate, Thank you for the lovely photos! Love, Love, Love all the birds reproducing in Pittsburgh!
Wonderful birding Kate.. Bravo on your determination and discovery..What a treat..thank you…
Any theories as to why this owl apparently laid her eggs so much earlier than the one on the Homestead Grays Bridge? I had recently been wondering if birth location influences when birds breed. That is, birds born in more southern latitudes where the breeding season starts earlier will tend to lay earlier even if they end up in a more northerly latitude when they reach breeding age and establish a nest site. I noticed that Hope who was born in Virginia began laying eggs somewhat earlier than Dorothy, who was born in Wisconsin, did. Could the Anderson Bridge owl have been born in a more southern state then wandered north before reaching breeding age and establishing a nest?
J, I have no idea and am afraid to guess. This owl fooled me once or twice already!
Hi Kate , Red tails nested there for years and moved to panther hollow . One year there were 3 Fully developed Juveniles screaming from railway tracks , as kids do , great view that year . Super they used there old nest , shoot me an email if you like , exchange birding pics and video .
Thanks, Colin.
Will the rescued owlet be returned to area since nest was found?
Patti, yes, after he is fattened up, certified healthy and has learned how to hunt from his foster mom. It may take a while.
Thank you Kate.
The more I think about it…the other nestlings seem late and the fledglings seem to be more on time. I always read that great horned owls nest in the winter. That the other nest has such tiny nestlings, or hatchlings, come the beginning of April seems late. Maybe a first attempt failed? That’s what great about nature. It keeps you honest (as they say in baseball).
Honest and sometimes embarrassed, kc!
Kate, You are amazing. Thank you for everything you do.
Great find, Kate – hope it’s OK to link this post on the FOPHL Facebook page.
Ron, It’s fine to link this to FOPHL. As expected, today the young owls were gone from the Bridge. I’m sure they’re somewhere in the park but who knows where? Only their parents know for sure.
Thx, Kate. We have some members that will love the news.