For Immediate Release
Media Contact – Caitlin Lee
914.213.5881
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Great Horned Owls Lays First Egg in Hilton Head Land Trust Raptor Cam Nest, Kicking Off Nesting Season
Hilton Head Island, SC – January 4, 2024 – The Hilton Head Island Land Trust is thrilled to announce its latest nest update. A pair of Great Horned Owls have successfully laid their first egg of the 2023 - 2024 nesting season in our Raptor Cam Nest. The egg was laid on January 2nd at 3:04 pm ET, signaling the beginning of an eagerly anticipated period as we anticipate the arrival of owlets.
The Hilton Head Island Land Trust has been observing the pair of Great Horned Owls and are elated that they have chosen the Raptor Cam nest. Great Horned Owl eggs are typically laid between late December and January, with intervals of approximately every two days, although in some cases, there may be up to a week between each laying. "As board members of the Hilton Head Island Land Trust, we're exhilarated by the anticipation of owlets in our nest. We invite everyone to join us in witnessing this extraordinary journey through our live Raptor CAM and experience the awe-inspiring and thrilling moments as the owlets prepare to enter the world.” says Robin Storey.
The Land Trust invites all wildlife enthusiasts and bird lovers to witness this captivating journey and to stay tuned into exciting developments by accessing the live Raptor CAM available on the Hilton Head Island Land Trust website (www.hhilandtrust.org/raptorcam).
The Land Trust extends its gratitude to our sponsors who have make viewing the webcam possible: Russell P. Patterson, P.A., Hargray and Monster Tree Service. To support this endeavor and the maintenance of the webcam, donations are welcome through our donation portal on PayPal.
The Hilton Head area is home to various bird nests, including eagles, osprey, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, owls, and great blue herons, offering an incredible glimpse into the diverse avian life in the region.
As we eagerly anticipate the imminent arrival of the owlet(s), observers are encouraged to keep a keen eye on the Raptor CAM for additional eggs being laid and the awaited 'pip'—the breakthrough of the eggshell by the owlet inside.
Facts about Great Horned Owls:
GHOs typically select nesting spots in various trees such as cottonwood, juniper, beech, pine, and others, often utilizing nests built by other species or cavities in live trees, deserted buildings, or cliff ledges.
They build nests using sticks and may line them with downy feathers plucked from their own breast or fur and feathers from prey.
Female GHOs are larger than their mates, with males weighing around 2.7 pounds and females around 3.5 pounds.
GHOs have a unique ability to rotate their necks up to 270 degrees due to their fixed eye structure.
Clutch sizes typically consist of 2 eggs but can range from 1 to 4 eggs with an incubation period of 28 to 35 days.
The diet of GHOs includes a wide array of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and occasionally fish.
For more information about the Hilton Head Island Land Trust and to watch the owls, please visit hhilandtrust.org.
View Hilton Head Island’s first Raptor Cam online here: www.hhilandtrust.org/raptorcam
Images for use below
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About the Hilton Head Island Land Trust
Our Mission: To preserve and protect critical natural habitat and significant historical parcels of land on Hilton Head Island for the enjoyment of future generations.
Every year valuable open space is lost to development. No where is this development pressure greater than on the Sea Islands, such as Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. To address this situation, a group of concerned citizens founded the Hilton Head Island Land Trust in 1987. The Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
The Land Trust acquires land by donation, outright purchase, bequest, endowment, or most commonly, conservation easement. To date, the Land Trust protects approximately 300 acres encompassing critical and unique sea island habitat and a historic Civil War site. The three most significant properties are Whooping Crane Pond Conservancy, Cypress Conservancy, and Fort Howell.
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