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More on the Birds of Manitoba and another member of the raptor family, the Great Horned Owl. These birds are commonly found around our province. Within the city, they can be found at Assiniboine Park, Fort Whyte Centre and other park like areas. They like to have open areas nearby for hunting but also the protection of spruce trees. The eggs are laid in loosely built nests of sticks high up in the branches of trees. This year, the family I was watching had three owlets. I was speaking to the city workers who were keeping an eye on the family. One owlet had fallen to the ground and a worker was advised by a wildlife employee to put it back up into a tree. He did this but suffered the consequences of the parent owl who silently and swiftly thumped him from behind leaving claw marks on his back. I have heard other people mention the parent owl will often take a swoop at them to protect their young. One should not try and get too close to any nesting birds – we should not want to disturb them in any way. Watch from a distance and enjoy. (Click on thumbnails to view a larger image)
~Sharon

Great Horned Owlet

Great Horned Owl