From ARC
It’s that time of year again: Great Horned Owl baby season! Our surrogate mom, Nonamé, has been preparing and exhibiting her typical nesting behaviors, such as taking apart her perches to gather nesting material and spending more time on her lower perch, where she typically watches her owlets.
As we have done in past years, we have given Nonamé a nest on the ground made of sticks, pine needles, pine cones, and various greenery. Since Nonamé is unable to fly, her nest is located on the ground. Great horned owls do not build their own nests from scratch; instead, they utilize pre-existing nests, often adding materials like moss, pine needles, and discarded feathers. Nonamé has been diligently rearranging her nest, adjusting the sticks and other materials to her liking.
I might get some flak for this, but this nest looks like it needs a lot more work. After reading the caption and scrolling down I had a little chuckle, I expected something grander. She knows best though of course!
I expected the 4 feathers, but I’m assuming she added the lighter colored pine needles, which was the big surprise for me.
Owls are famously lazy nesters, but despite this, I’ve only ever seen them be amazing parents.
She did something to make it her own, decorating just isn’t one of her strengths. 😄