News, Videos & Other Webcams > Raptor Cams

Great Horned Owls - Colorado / Xcel Energy

<< < (2/5) > >>

Alison:
It is so sad to see Snowflake injured and the eggs abandoned. I hope she will be able to recover quickly, and that she and Dan will be able to start a second clutch. Last year, after they abandoned their eggs, they did not lay a second clutch, but back in 2007 they did successfully raise a second clutch of two owlets. And TPC, Dave Madonna's children were the ones who named Snowflake.

I am hoping for the best possible outcome for Snowflake and Dan.









An update also from Amy Ries at Raptor Resource:

There appears to have been a territorial battle between the owls. My understanding is that it isn't common, but does happen - there were three owls at the plant. I know Dr. Redig thought, based on a photograph, that an owl had been burned, but Dave, the plant employee who works with the nestbox, got out binoculars and spent some time scoping the owl. He believes it is dried blood, probably from the territorial battle. We've never seen a burn-related injury at that plant before.

If we hear anything else, I'll let you know.

Amy Ries

carly:
Wow...I guess that answers my question then.  I hope that snowflake will be okay and they can renest  :(

Thanks for the report Alison.

Alison:
From Dave Madonna, who is at the Valmont Plant, and who does a great job of watching over the owls:

Thanks for your support and concern for the Valmont GHO's.  The adult female is currently perched outside the nest just out of the camera's view.   Observing her with binoculars from about 100 yards away, she appears to have dried blood on her face.   The adult male is roosting in a favorite spot directly below the nest and he appears to be healthy.   There has been a third GHO, probably female based on size, in the immediate area for over a week.    I am speculating that the nesting female got into a territorial fight with the intruder last night.  There has been no sign of the third owl today.   Hopefully, the female's injuries are superficial and she will recover quickly. 

GHO's have been nesting at the Valmont power plant for over 30 years.   In the 13 years I have been watching them, only 1 nest has failed, although there has been plenty of excitement.   They are  remarkably adaptable.   The nest cameras give us incredible insight into the challenges they face.   Their three eggs are almost certainly nonviable after being exposed for so long.   They may possibly lay a second clutch in two weeks or so like they did several years ago.   

Be assured that we are keeping a close watch on the owls.   I will submit another post if anything significant occurs here.   Thanks again for your support.

Dave Madonna

carly:

--- Quote from: Alison on February 25, 2010, 15:53 ---Something has happened at Valmont. Snowflake came home last night with her face covered with something dark, which looks like blood. She has been mostly out of the nest since then, and has ceased to incubate the eggs. Apparently there is another female GHO in the area, and it seems likely that Snowflake has had a confrontation with her.  :'(


--- End quote ---

Oh no :(  I guess it's not just PF's that have territorial fights then?  I hope she will be okay at least, even if the eggs are not viable. 

Alison:
Something has happened at Valmont. Snowflake came home last night with her face covered with something dark, which looks like blood. She has been mostly out of the nest since then, and has ceased to incubate the eggs. Apparently there is another female GHO in the area, and it seems likely that Snowflake has had a confrontation with her.  :'(

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page