In early February, Lucy, a member of the housekeeping staff, discovered a baby great horned owl beneath a pine tree near Albany Provincial House’s front circle. The Provincial House Administrator Tracy Needham contacted Amanda S., a local wild bird rehabilitator, who identified the owlet as a one- to two-week-old female. Great horned owls begin nesting earlier than most North American birds, and a nest was visible high in a nearby pine.
Following standard rescue protocol, a milk crate was securely fastened to the tree as a substitute nest for the owlet. We were delighted when the parents accepted this arrangement, moving in and continuing to care for their baby. A trail camera was installed to monitor the owlet’s safety and feeding schedule, capturing regular meals of mice and squirrels, and even documenting an encounter with an intrusive hawk. During this time, we educated ourselves about great horned owls, particularly regarding their development and needs.
On early Friday, March 21, the approximately eight-week-old owlet left the nest. Amanda returned to provide guidance, advising: “Just let her go. She now needs the tree cover of the woods.” Though juvenile owls cannot yet fly well or hunt independently, this ground phase is a normal part of their development. Under our maintenance staff’s watchful supervision, the young owl, now hen-sized, waddled and flapped toward the woods, guided by her parents’ hoots. We’re thankful for our time with this feathered family and the lessons they taught us about our shared ecosystem, and we wish them continued success.
