Birding/great horned owls

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Expert: Julia Booth - 10/4/2008


Question
When do horned owls actually start the mating process.  The pair on our place mated yesterday evening.  I thought they hatched young in January.  How long is incubation?  I am located in Austin County, Texas.  Wonder if the hurricane had anything to do with it.  Thanks for your help.

Answer
Great Horned Owls are the most populous owls in North America and very virsatile in regards to enviroment and weather. Unlike most other birds, they typically mate in late fall and nest in the winter. The Great Horned Owl nests earlier in the year than any other owl in North America, but this obviously varies by loctation. Incubation is 28-35 days, mostly by the female. It varies. Some mated pairs differ. The young will remain in the nest for about 35-45 days. They are fed by both parents.

Hope this answers your question and sorry for the delay

Julia

Birding

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Julia Booth

Expertise

I can answer questions about bird identification (by sight or sound), behavior, distribution, population, conservation, mating, nesting, fledging and feeding. I do have some practical knowledge about foreign species, but identification skills are limited in that arena. Bear in mind that as much as I know, it's possible that at least some of you will ask a question that I am unable to answer. At which point I would direct you to wherever or whomever I thought could provide you with that information.

Experience

I have 15 years birding experience in Southern California.

Organizations
Audubon Society

Education/Credentials
My education is in art and photography -but I have a substantial portfolio of nature related work.

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