Crows vs Great Horned Owl protecting nest...

[Singletracklovr]

Shortly after my arrival at the Owl Nest last night two crows arrived cawing and taunting papa like no other.
Talk about a focus nightmare...It's a stick city...


They surrounded him.


At first he paid no mine…


They they got closer.. Continuing to make a big racket.


Then all hell broke loose…


Wishing I had EricD’s photography skills about now…


Victorious…Crows were chased out of the nesting tree.


Papa takes a quick look back at the nest.


The babies were huddled together at the edge of the nest watching the whole thing….



Hope you enjoyed my little photo essay, I know they won’t win any awards but thought they were good enough to share.

Thanks for looking.

[SARtech]

VERY cool captures Bob! I still can not find an owl. I don't know about over by work, but I know there are some in the Forest Preserve behind my condo. What do they sound like when they are flying at night? I heard something in the middle of the night the other night that made a strange noise as it flew by my window. Like a dull, low constant chirping sound. Can't explain it really. Didn't sound like any othere bird I've heard.

[Singletracklovr]

VERY cool captures Bob! I still can not find an owl. I don't know about over by work, but I know there are some in the Forest Preserve behind my condo. What do they sound like when they are flying at night? I heard something in the middle of the night the other night that made a strange noise as it flew by my window. Like a dull, low constant chirping sound. Can't explain it really. Didn't sound like any othere bird I've heard.

The few times I witnessed the parent owls leave or arrive at the nest they are totally silent.
I only notice a dark blob heading into the nest when they arrive. It's fast and I usually can't grab my electronic shutter release before it lands. I've not heard any sounds from the babies. Mom has hooted (very deep, very low) several times usually just before leaving.

As for locating a nest. I am no expert, but what I read from googling is the GHO will adopt an old hawks nest which is what my group has done. So I would start your search there. Check every large nest to can find. In my little experience the babies are very inquisitive and don't hide. They will stand right up in the nest and look back at you.

If you do find a Redtailed Hawk nest occupied by a RTH you will know it. Mom will come out of the nest and raise all kinds of racket. That is what my occupied RTH did. I had to find an approach that did not upset here with a good view of the nest. Unfortunately that's 250 feet away. But I would rather crop my images than get closer and stress the bird.

hth

[Shanxix]

Nice interesting set of pictures; Thanks for sharing Bob!! Finding Owls back here in day light is almost impossible and the closest I've ever got is to hear their hoots on a distant tree...

[ksbryan0]

Enjoyed the story Bob. Next time bring along a slingshot and help him out!

[CaraRose]

Outstanding series, Bob!

[armando_m]

Awesome series !!

thanks for the sharing the photos and story, that makes it so much interesting