A friend had told me about this Great Horned Owl nest in Alum Rock Park. It was amazing since the nest was right next to one of the most traveled paths in the park and people were walking right by it without ever noticing it. The adult and chicks really blend in well with the rock face, and without movement or sounds they are virtually impossible to detect. I in fact also walked right by the nest without spotting them and I even knew where to approximately look! Here is a wide-angle perspective of the cliff. Can you find the owls?
Great Horned Owl nest camouflaged in cliff face, Alum Rock Park, California
A closer look…
Great Horned Owl adult and owlets, Alum Rock Park, California
Great Horned Owl adult and chicks, Alum Rock Park, California
As I was photographing the parent and the owlets I would point the nest out to people passing by. They were often somewhat in shock that the owls were so close and most were really excited to see them. I also learned something that day, the word ‘buho’, which is Spanish for Owl. For me, it is always extremely exciting and rewarding to get other people interested and excited in nature. An owl nest like this in such open view is a rarity, it is amazing to me that the birds tolerate the people walking and biking so close by. I thought they would have abandoned it with all the ‘disturbance’, but it seems like these chicks will make it to fledging.
In fact one of the owlets was already exercising his wings…
Great Horned Owl owlet flapping its wings, Alum Rock Park, California
I will return there and will try to get some images of fledging. More to come.