Al and Betty are great horned owls nesting in Socorro, in central New Mexico. The adult owls are about 20 inches high with a wingspan of over 3 feet. Great horned owls do not build nests; they find abandoned nests, ledges, or other suitable sites. For the first two years, these owls used the rotted-out top of a cottonwood tree. The third year, they laid eggs but abandoned the nest after a few weeks. A couple of days later, the tree collapsed.


To encourage the owls to stay around, the human neighbors found instructions for building a GHO nest on the Internet, and made one out of chicken wire and heavy-duty rubberized tarp, with holes for drainage. It is nailed in the crook of a tree about 20 feet above ground. The owls raised two chicks there in 2007 and three in 2008.

In January this year, Al started sitting in the nest at dusk and making repetitive low hoots to attract Betty (see the earliest videos posted here). After about three weeks, and several matings, Betty started nesting on February 16, with two eggs. By February 22, she had laid a third egg. GHOs typically lay eggs a few days apart, and the chicks will hatch at different times.


Incubation takes about 30 days, so look for chicks mid-March. They should spend six to eight weeks in the nest before “branching” (walking around in the tree) and then learning to fly. The family stays together until autumn, when the young fly off to find new territories.


Betty spends most of the day sleeping, though she will occasionally get up to turn the eggs. Owls are most active at dusk, when you may see Betty hoot (no sound here, sorry) and leave the nest to hunt. These GHOs eat mainly birds and rodents, especially rabbits. Betty returns to the nest promptly after hunting. So far as we know, the male never sits on the eggs, though once the chicks are born he may deliver food and always stays nearby. The adults will tear up prey such as rabbits and feed large chunks to the chicks.


Each year the babies are named after songs (eg, Julio, Cecilia and Emily - Simon and Garfunkel; Lucy and Wally (the Eggman) - the Beatles). This year's theme is ABBA.


Chick one hatched 3/23 or 24/09 Agnetha
Chick two hatched 3/25/09 Chiquitita
Third egg, Fernando, did not hatch


See pics of previous year's chicks at http://picasaweb.google.com/ChrisEboch
See photos from this year at http://picasaweb.google.com/alane01


See Wikipedia for more information on GHOs.




THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED. WE APPRECIATE THE HELP!








For all of you who are drinkers 21 and over


Take 11 or 12 large lemons and wash. Dry off and take a potato peeler and peels strips off of lemon. Don't go too deep - try to keep the white pith to a minimum (it makes things bitter). Put all the lemon strips in a ceramic bowl or glass jar and add 1 liter of grain alcohol OR vodka (not both). Cover with Saran Wrap and leave for 5 days out of sun. On the 6th day, strain mixture through a cheesecloth. Take 2 liters of water and 4 cups of sugar and boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly so it doesn't scorch. When clear, remove from heat and let cool. Add sugar syrup to lemon mixture and stir. You can then put limoncello in mason jars or whatever you have and keep it in the freezer. It will not freeze - too much alcohol, but it will be slightly thick. Super on a hot hot day, but be careful - been known to be dangerous!!!!

Enjoy all............Lisa