Owl at Home Depot

Some Great Horned Owls are nesting in the garden section at a Home Depot here. I went over today to get some pictures. The nest is up on the second layer of storage and and I didn't have a very good angle. The clerk I talked to said there's at least one owlet. She said one of the other employees tried to climb up for a closer look, but the owl "got real big" and he climbed back down.

My wife got a picture of the other bird on her cell phone yesterday, perched on some electrical conduit near the nest, but he wasn't there today. The clerk said it's the first time they haven't seen him since they started nesting, so everyone is concerned that something happened to him. I hope he' OK.

"You can build it, we can help." I guess the owl heard the slogan. Good captures, Ken.

Hopefully the store can leave them alone till the owlet can fly on its own, nice story and nice shots

Well no wonder I've not seen any owls.....I haven't looked in the local Home Depot.....great story and neat shots.

I never cease to be amazed at how some wildlife can adapt to us humans. Osprey & Falcons nesting in the city are one thing, but but this takes the cake. Nice captures!

Thanks for the comments.

The store is leaving that stack of mulch alone, and I think the stuff on either side. But otherwise it's business as usual and the birds don't seem to mind. And many of the customers don't even know the nest is there.

I guess you can find almost anything at the Home Depot. Very nice captures!

Great series Ken & I sure hope the other adult is OK

What an interesting place for them to nest. I'm sure the rat or mouse population is shrinking in the store now.

Do they have access to outside? Water? They can't just be locked into the store all the time, not much food in there. Although I was at the Menards last week and a swarm of house sparrows was into the pet food area, even breaking open bags to get to the food. While I hate House Sparrows, I am not in love with big business right now either. I just smiled.

These birds don't build their own nests and it appears that this pallet of garden materials ( soil, mulch..) fitted the bill ( its large,high. has some protection and lots of perches ) . The Home Depots in my area have garden centres that are well fenced but open on top so these birds are free to come and go. It will be interesting to see what the owlet does when he/she fledges. The danger is if it gets to the floor of the centre when there are people around. The mother could see someone approaching an owlet as a threat and these birds can inflict some serious hurt on any perceived threat. The employee who climbed up I am sure knew exactly what the owl was going to do if he continued to get closer. The huge talons on a female ( the larger of the two sexes) are powerful and extremely sharp. Thanks for the great story and pics...please keep us up to date

Thats funny...and a kind of weird phenomenon here with the Flickers.they have decided to work their way into the sides of PetSmart and the Liquor store in my area...insulation and chips everywhere, but thankfully.they have purchased houses for both locations, and the birds have adapted to them instead of drillling into the siding!

Nice work and a good story. Keep us up to speed.
Keith

Went back today and the male was there. But he was perched way back in the corner so this was the best I could do. Some blown highlights because he was in shade but his tufts were in full sun.

Thanks for the update Ken & I'm glad the male is OK.....keep them coming!