Raptors are generally early nesters, with great horned owls setting up nesting territories in November and December. By January, many female horned owls will be incubating eggs. At Shaver's Creek, several birds are currently in various stages of nesting and egg laying. Amazingly, our bald eagles are also nesting. The female laid her first egg on March 8, and a second egg about three days later.
Raptors are asynchronous egg-layers.
Moreover, they begin incubating as soon as the first egg is laid, rather than waiting until the clutch is complete, as most songbirds do. This method ensures at least one chick from the brood a fairly high chance of fledgling, as the older, more vigorous chicks are fed first. In years of poor hunting, younger chicks die or are killed by older siblings, but the oldest survive. They will then be removed from the care of their captive parents and placed into wild foster nests, so that the eaglets can learn to hunt and survive in the wild. Sadly, not all nestings have been productive this season.