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Nesting | |
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| Description
Range, Migratory Patterns, and Habitat Development of Young and Life Span
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Great Horned Owls rarely make their own nests.
They will appropriate nests from Red-tailed Hawks, crows, magpies, and squirrels (Canadian
Wildlife Service 2000 and Voous 1989). Nests are usually used in current condition.
Efforts to repair nests are rarely made by the nesting pair. New nests are found on a
yearly basis. Old nests are rarely re-used (Canadian Wildlife Service 2000). Hollow trees
will occasionally be used as nesting sites along with more unusual sites such as rock
ledges and bare ground (Canadian Wildlife Service 2000 and Terres 1966). See Figure 3 for
a hollow tree used as a nesting site. The nesting site is vigorously defended by both the
male and female (Eckert 1974). Other hawks or owls that attempt to reclaim the nest being
used or to nest nearby are driven away or killed (Voous 1989). The female usually lays one clutch. If it is lost, she rarely lays a second one. Clutch size varies from 1-5 with 2 being the most common. Eggs are laid approximately every 72 hours between December 28 and January 31. Incubation is completed by the female and lasts 28-30 days. The male is responsible for hunting during incubation and for the first few weeks after the young hatch (Voous 1989). Parent’s protectiveness increases with hatching and age (Eckert 1974).
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