Great Horned Owlet in trouble
David Gersten (gerstens@erols.com)
Thu, 16 Apr 1998 10:11:31 -0400
Birders,
On my way to work each morning I pass by a Great Horned Owl's nest along
Sunrise Valley Road in Herndon/Reston, VA. There is one owlet in the
nest. When I first started watching the nest I was surprised that it
was productive despite its position near the edge of a small forest and
just thirty feet from a four lane road in one direction, sixty feet from
a six lane highway in another and within twenty feet of an active
construction zone in a third direction.
My worries seemed to be for naught until this morning. A large sign at
the nearest intersection - Foxmill Road and Sunrise Valley - warns
passer biers of imminent BLASTING. Problem is this blasting will
undoubtedly occur in the construction site just twenty feet from the
nest and the owls will receive no warning.
I've called the Fairfax County Wildlife Rescue League and I assume they
will return my message. Hopefully they can monitor the situation.
Perhaps they can be prepared to move the owls to a safer, more
hospitable local.
My next step is to try calling the construction company and ask them to
delay until the owl has fledged - presumably by mid May. If this fails
my next approach would be to have others call and request the same
action. I may even offer to lead a bird walk for the local elementary
school and encourage the participants to add to the pressure.
Do any of you have any other suggestions of people I should contact or
other ideas? My big worry is that the adults will abandon the owlet
before it can cope. I know Great Horned Owls are hardy and less
concerned with humans than most owls - I once watched one that roosted
just a few feet from a busy metro station - but construction blasting
may be too much.
Thanks,
______
David Gersten
Herndon, VA
gerstens@erols.com