SWFL Eagles 10-2-24. Great Horned Owl Pair Visits the Nest Tree; Both Check Out the Nest.

[@androcat12]

Notes from my video description: What to Expect with the Great Horned Owls visiting: We will have to watch and see. Owls do not build nests. They take over the nests of other birds (eagles, hawks, osprey, herons), and use a variety of other spots to nest. This is the owl's territory also. Eagles and Owls exclude their own species, but not one another, from territory. The owls are scouting nesting locations while in their courting period. Owls have been here since Season 1 when the cams first went live, so we will probably see the same behaviors as in the past. The owls will visit the nest, and the male will likely bring food gifts for the female, as he did last season. Will the owls try to take over the nest? That is a possibility, or they may choose a different nesting location. The eagles and owls are aware of each other. We watched M15 last season fly to the nest late at night and stay in it (or the nest tree). We shall see if he does the same this season, and if so, it will likely be closer to egg laying time when he starts. Whoever lays their eggs first will likely keep the nest. The eagles may try to remove the female owl if she lays eggs. It is a dangerous fight for all of them. Eagles are more likely to build another nest if they lose their nest or nest tree. The owls will find another nesting site if F23 starts incubation. F23 was first to lay eggs last season, with the owls starting incubation shortly after in the N2 nest in the W pasture. The N2 nest is no longer there (Link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWS8cniabsmWmpIsi=WWkEWg76GtQ5GqRx ). The owls will not be captured and moved, as some have asked about. The owls are formidable birds; however, an intruder eagle is a far more dangerous bird, IMO. The top reasons eagles go into care or perish are human caused issues: vehicle strikes, power line strikes, poisoning (lead, rodenticide, etc.). Fights with other eagles are far more common than fights with owls. Please try to keep perspective, and try not to worry about things that have not happened. I pray for a safe and successful season for all of the birds nesting on the Pritchett farm.

[@serapmehmet3346]

Greatly appreciate your literature Androcat ❤Tysvm my friend , Wishing you and all Friends a Wonderful blessed weekend ❤🦅🌹🙏💫🦉❤

[@16MedicRN]

Ah, I was wondering about nest 2. It would be crazy if the GHOs stole from M15 and F23 !!!

[@androcat12]

16MedicRN. M15 stayed in the nest last season as egg laying got close. He knows.

[@androcat12]

@serapmehmet3346 . YW 🙂. Prayers they all remain safe. 🙏🏻💙

[@Ladybug23940]

M15 and Harriet built N2( nest #2) some years ago. The owls took that nest and have been in it 4-5 seasons at least. It was demolished after the storm last year so I imagine they will be looking for a nest this year. I have always thought the eagles would be able to tell the owls had been in this nest. I hope so then M 15 will guard earlier as he did last season. I’m praying for their successful and safe season.

[@catherinebreitfeller669]

NOTICE TO OWLS: Stay out of this nest. It belongs to eagles M15 and F23 !! You will be evicted if you try to nest here. 🦅🦅

[@Terri_Stauffer]

I don’t blame the GHO pair for checking out the nest. F and M have done beautiful job making nestorations. I don’t think the male likes the log though, 3:30 all I could think of was he’s trying to push it out of way with his head. Some beautiful closeups by cam opps. 🥰🦉

[@androcat12]

Terri Stauffer. Ha! The male was like why did those crazy eagles put a perch branch in the middle of this nest 😉? CamOps was on top of it with the close-ups! Thank you, CamOps!

[@nomado3650]

This applies to everything in our life! “Please try to keep perspective, and try not to worry about things that have not happened.” ❤👏👏

[@bootsiekeegan4401]

Ill try i remember Harriet got injured badly by these owls😢

[@16MedicRN]

​@@bootsiekeegan4401wasn't it M15? I think he spent a couple days on the ground after an owl strike. Had no idea it happened to Harriet, too.

[@niico76]

True! good advice in general.

[@bootsiekeegan4401]

@@nomado3650 Harriet was injured badly

[@androcat12]

@bootsiekeegan4401. Harriet was not injured badly by the owls. She received what appeared to be a puncture wound to her gape, likely catching a talon on a strike. Although it was upsetting to all of us, it was not a serious injury, and Harriet did not miss a beat.

[@nomado3650]

Amazing footage and that cover image of an owl is 🔥🔥🔥! Really appreciate taking the time, Androcat, to provide this great information about nests and birds’ behaviours! 👏👏👏

[@michellecoshow2927]

Here we go again, owl is Eagles... ❤

[@androcat12]

@michellecoshow2927. The owls have been here every season. We will see them again next season.

[@shiraisrael-levin1651]

I think you meant Owls vs Eagles.

[@Marilyn12346]

Beautiful Great Horned Owl pair! Wishing them well. Thanks Androcat 🤗

[@androcat12]

@MarilynM12346. YW 🙂. I hope they find a nesting site in the N end of the farm, where they will be more safe. They are beautiful, and it has been a gift to watch them raise their Hootlets over the last several seasons. 🙏🏻💙

[@bootsiekeegan4401]

Omg here we go again with the owls😮😢😮😢

[@androcat12]

@bootsiekeegan4401. This is their territory also, and they are simply being owls. They will be here again next season, just like the last twelve seasons. Please try not to worry about something that has not happened. 🙏🏻💙

[@annwilliams1073]

Great video androcat

[@shiraisrael-levin1651]

I noticed that the face of the face from than the male. I enjoy hearing them hoot.

[@annwilliams1073]

They r beautiful birds who desperately need a nest, apparently they don't build their own,they look for abandoned nests ...but this one is taken & they don't know this?😢

[@androcat12]

@annwilliams1073. They are beautiful, and they do need a nest site. They are scouting every nesting site in their territory, and they scout this one every season. We cannot say what they know about this nest. Keep in mind, this is normal behavior for them, to try to find somewhere to nest. As I cautioned in my description, please do not stress about something that has not happened. 🙏🏻💙

[@colesbackyardcoop]

Beautiful coverage. I love the owls duet. This season will be interesting to watch with the owls in the mix. I had forgotten that N2 is no longer an option for the owls. Thankfully they finished raising their babies before the nest collapsed last season. M15 will not give up the nest easily. Nature will work itself out. Thanks for sharing 😊 🦅🦉💜

[@androcat12]

@colesbackyardcoop. YW 🙂. The duets are amazing, especially listening in person. They go right through you. We will likely see the same behavior this season from M15 as we saw last season. I appreciate your kind words. 💙🙏🏻

[@sergei7995]

They hope that they can get this nest. It won't be like that. These owls are beautiful but I love M15 and F23 more. Perhaps, a hurricane destroyed their nest. As I know owls don't build the nest. Thanks a lot for your interesting video. ❤

[@androcat12]

Sergei. We will likely see M15 do the same thing he did last season, staying in the nest close to egg laying time. The remainder of the N2 nest, which wasn’t much, fell over the summer. Here is my summer video covering that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWS8cniabsmWmpIsi=cT9MKYI2oIywIy7F

[@PriscillaD225]

WOW! She is stunning. Just like M15 and F23 GHOW fight for survival every day of their lives. I too pray the owls find another nest farther from the commercial area where the prey they hunt will not poison them and there will be no confrontations over M’s nest. Just love the sound of their hooting. Thank you Androcat for all the information you provided.💜🦉💜

[@androcat12]

@PriscillaD225. YW🙂. GHOW are beautiful and impressive birds. You have watched how great of parents they are, and Hootlets are beyond precious. I want to see them all safe and successful, with the owls in a more safe location. 🙏🏻💙

[@annwilliams1073]

What's sad is the eagles will retain this nest & the owls nest is no longer...where do the two owls go?

[@androcat12]

@annwilliams1073. GHOW are extremely versatile birds, nesting in a variety of locations, as they cannot build their own nest. They use abandoned nests, or take over nests of a variety of birds. They can also use open buildings, which there are several of in this territory. They have nested in two different trees in the last four seasons, both in the W pasture. The owls will find a nesting site. 🙏🏻💙

[@elizabethnewby-or7br]

Just watch nature play out and pray its a successful season for the eagles just like you said. 🙏 Thanks for this video and update Androcat!

[@androcat12]

@elizabethnewby-or7br. YW🙂. That is exactly what I am praying for also! 🙏🏻💙

[@lois.mepstein5830]

M 15 and F23 will have to sleep by nest and chase them out. It is their nest. Owls must not nest there. IIf the owls even try I hope the eagles will make them leave by any means possible. If eggs laid they could be ousted by F23.

[@androcat12]

@lois.mepstein5830. Please try not to worry about something that has not happened. The owls scout multiple locations, and have scouted this nest in the past. The eagles are aware of the owls. 🦅💙🦅