Nature Notebook

It’s owl nesting season! Wild great-horned owls, barred owls, and eastern screech-owls are courting, mating, and entering nesting season.

Owls, and particularly the great-horned owl are early nesters and their courtship calls can often be heard from the fall into winter. Early nesting can be risky out in the wild due to freezing temperatures, but owls do this so their young have enough time to grow and learn hunting skills necessary to become a top predator.

Great-horned owls typically mate for life, and after spending spring, summer and the beginning of fall in separate parts of their territory, the male and female will come together to nest and raise their young. Great-horned owls typically make their nests in a nest used in previous years by other large birds or squirrels, but may also use tree cavities, man-made structures or dead snags.

After a month or so of constant incubation, one to four owlets hatch and both parents work together to feed the young for a few months until they are ready to hunt on their own.

Sign up for our Women in Nature Candlemaking Class on Saturday, Jan. 13 from 10 a.m. - noon. Spend the morning learning some candle making techniques and make your own take-home candle with Shannon from Peppermill Candle Co. Space is limited so please call ahead to register (269)927-4832. Members/ $30, Non-Members/ $35.