Hello!

Over the past month or so during my frequent visits to Highbanks Metro
Parks, I have seen and/or heard two pairs of Great-Horned Owls at the same
locations as observed in recent years.  More specifically, a pair appears  to be back
to nest in the same sycamore tree as the last several years  and a second
pair have been calling in the area of the Adena mound off of the  Dripping Rock
trail where I've observed them the previous 2 years.

On several occasions over the last month, I have observed one (usually the
male) or both of one pair in their traditional roost in a pine tree down the
ravine from the sycamore tree.  Last evening, I saw (and heard) the  male in
the pine roost whereas I saw the female perched at the lip of the bowl  in the
sycamore tree.  One's best bet to see one is to look in their  roosting pine
tree which is best done using a scope as the tree is across  the ravine from the
Dripping Rock trail, and their perch is within a tangle of  pine boughs.
However, once you know where to look, this year has afforded  the best looks
compared to years past.  I can provide more specific  directions to this location
if e-mailed privately or one could check with a  naturalist at the nature
center (Suzan, Kim, or Doc).  Please keep in mind  that I've seen an owl in the
pine roost no more than 40-50% of the time that I  look, and for the first-timer
to this location, it may take some  perseverance to locate the roost and/or
owl(s).

I have heard the second pair of owls on several occasions the past  month
when I hike the spur trail to the Adena mound off of the Dripping  Rock trail.
Last year, I was able to determine that the pair nested in an  area east of the
Adena mound just off of park property (however I  observed from park
property).  As I reported last year, there have  been times when I observed one or
both of the pair in the area; however,  they are more likely to be heard rather
than seen.

Directions to Highbanks can be found on the OOS web site or at
_www.metroparks.net_ (http://www.metroparks.net) .

Rob Lowry
Powell, Ohio





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