Great horned owls take over famed SC live streamed nest. Here’s how to watch
The great horned owl has recently claimed a well-known nest on Hilton Head Island that is recorded by a Raptor CAM that is monitored by the Hilton Head Island Land Trust and is live-streamed to interested viewers.
Earlier this month, a great horned owl mother laid a single egg, which she and her mate will incubate for the next month.
To view the live stream, click here.
So what should viewers know about this particular kind of owl?
What are they?
The great horned owl is the largest breeding owl in South Carolina and is one of the country’s most common owl species.
Named for their prominent ear tufts, these owls are gray-brown in color with mottled patterning on most of the body, a white throat patch and yellow eyes.
What do they eat?
These owls prefer to prey on mammals but will commonly dine on birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, fish, crustaceans, carrion, and even scorpions, according to Hawk Mountain Global Raptor Conservation.
Generally speaking, these owls will eat what is available to them in their respective habitats.
Where do they live?
Great horned owls can be found nesting pretty much everywhere in the state, so one shouldn’t be very difficult to find if you are hoping to spot one. A great place to start looking would be in trees, ledges and buildings.
They have many habitats, including forests, wetlands, grasslands, deserts and urban environments.
What are their breeding habits?
Great horned owls are one of the earliest breeding raptors in the country, as they begin their courtship as early as the fall, and typically use secondary nests often from red-tailed hawks to lay their eggs in December or January.
“Incubation lasts for an average of 33 days and is done entirely by the female. Clutch size ranges from one to five eggs with an average of two. Great-horned owls are capable of double-clutching, meaning that if the first clutch fails the female may lay another. However, usually fewer eggs are laid the second time, and they are smaller,” detailed Hawk Mountain.
