Olivas Owls

Photo Credit: Jim Greaves	Olivia the Olivas Great Horned Owl is back in her nest. This picture was taken by Jim Greaves in mid-March, 2006. We won't know how many eggs she's sitting on until they hatch. Watch this page as Olivia's family grows.
	Each year between late February and early May, a family of great horned owls comes back to the Adobe to nest in one of the eucalyptus trees. A display regarding the owls is located in the Richard Senate Exhibit Hall. Great Horned Owls like to make their nests in the natural cavity of a tree. The nests may be lined or unlined with leaves.
Photo Credit: Dave Furseth	April 2, 2006: Have the egg(s) hatched? Their breeding season is late November in the south to early April in the north.
Photo Credit: Dave Furseth	April 2, 2006: Ah ha! At least one egg has hatched. Are there more? A Great Horned Owl will lay between one and five eggs. The female incubates the eggs for a period of 26 to 35 days. The nestlings are altricial and downy. Altricial means that the young hatch while they are basically helpless.
Photo Credit: Dave Furseth	April 2, 2006: Is this a second chick or the same one? Both the male and female care for the owlets. But, the female broods the hatchlings for the first three weeks while the male brings food.
Photo Credit: Dave Furseth	April 7, 2006: The little guy is either very brave or he's hungry. Is he the only one? The nestlings eyes open on the tenth day and leave the nest after four or five weeks. They can fly satisfactorily after nine or ten weeks, but the adults feed them for a long period after that.
Photo Credit: Dave Furseth	April 7, 2006: Finally! Now we know there are two of them. It will be fun watching these guys grow.
Photo Credit: Dave Furseth	April 15, 2006: The little guys are growing. Soon, their down will turn to feathers. Now, they are old enough for Mom to leave the nest to hunt.
Photo Credit: Dave Furseth	April 30, 2006: Feathers are beginning to show through the down. Mom is out hunting, but where is his nest mate?
Photo Credit: Dave Furseth	April 30, 2006: Ah ha! His nest mate felt brave enough to fly to a nearby olive tree. You can be sure Mom is somewhere nearby keeping an eye on him.
Photo Credit: Guy Webb	It's 2007 and they're back! And this year they were early. This photo was taken the first week of March, 2007. And the mother owl has already left the nest. But, rest assured that she is somewhere near.
Photo Credit: Guy Webb	March 21, 2007: One little guy keeps watch while the other grabs a nap.