Like many in Rye, a family of Great Horned Owls was attracted to this area by our access to nature and the quiet treelined streets.
This young family of four includes two parents raising two fuzzy, wide-eyed owlets, said Henry Myers Associate Director of Forest Education at the Rye Nature Center.
Rather than building their own nest, Great Horned Owls often repurpose the abandoned nests of other large birds — or, in this case, they’ve opted for the cavity of an old tree, Myers explained. It’s perfectly suited for their needs.
Owls are nocturnal and fly nearly silently, using their remarkable hearing and eyesight to hunt. They hunt everything from mice to skunks. And as apex predators, they play a crucial role in keeping the local ecosystem balanced.
