March 19, 2015 in Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl continues on nest at the Heron Rookery in Methuen. This female has endured all kinds of extreme weather and has been so faithful in her duties! It is hatch time and we should soon see the an owlet or two! Stay tuned!
February 27, 2015 in Great Horned Owl
The nesting Great Horned owl has returned again to the Carter Field Reservation in West Boxford. The Owl is found in the middle of a Great Blue Heron Rookery located in a dead tree swamp. The number of nesting Herons in the rookery has been reduced considerably in the last few years due to winter storms and other factors. The bast vantage point may be from the trail off of Bradford Street.
April 25, 2014 in Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owlet continues to grow in size and darken slightly in plumage. Best guess is that the owlet is about 6 weeks old. It is likely days away from breaking out of the nest and starting the process of climbing around on nearby branches prior to fledging, or making its first flight! Stay tuned!!
April 22, 2014 in Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owlet in Methuen continues to grow in size and change in plumage with darker colors. Nice observation time this morning while owlet in nest with adult no where to be seen. At first, owlet low in nest and then it just seemed to straighten right up providing much better looks. Estimated age is around 5-6 weeks old and ready to start “branching” very soon!
For those with interest, 7 photos posted: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/155336225
Click “next” in upper right corner to advance frames!
April 10, 2014 in Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned owlet continue to remain in the nest with Mother owl leaving owlet alone for longer periods of time. Owlet continues to grow in size and is alert to all proximate activities in Heron rookery.
April 3, 2014 in Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl pair in Methuen appear to have mated in early to middle of February. The female laid her egg in the middle of February, incubated it 30-35 days, keeping the incubation temperature constant, even during the all snowstorms. The owlet was born in the middle of March and will likely fledge in early June, at about 10 weeks. Owlets open their eyes at one week, and will start to leave the nest at four to five weeks of age. Owlets will then “branch” and then hang around on that branch for another 9 to 12 weeks when they become proficient at flying. The young stay near the parents until the fall, when they are forced to leave their parents territory.
Photos posted: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/155079818
Enjoy!
April 1, 2014 in Great Horned Owl
The winds was blowing at 15 MPH this morning out of the north. The female protected the chick under her wings while her ear tufts were being blown around quite a bit. A single chick is in the nest, at times with eyes wide open!
March 29, 2014 in Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl and little one continue at the Methuen Heron Rookery. So far, no indications of another owlet, but we will keep a sharp eye open for other one! No sign of Papa Bear. The rookery is now filling up with Great Blue Herons returning to the rookery and chasing each other in normal courtship behavior. Stay tuned!
March 11, 2014 in Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl continues on nest in the Great Blue Heron Rookery. No Herons have arrived yet an the number of Heron nests in place from last year has been reduced dramatically. Many of the trees have been blown or have fallen over as well. It will be interesting to see what happens when the herons return this year!
